American Quilts & Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art [Hardcover]

Amelia Peck (Author), Cynthia V A Schaffner (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

American Quilts and Coverlets is the ultimate book on historical Quilts in America. Featuring over 150 outstanding examples and beautifully designed with stunning color illustrations, the book spotlights the Metropolitan Museum of Art's growing collection of our nation's finest and most comprehensive assemblage of traditional American quilts. From wonderful 18th century quilts and extraordinary Amish work to an exceptional 1856 quilt containing hundreds of signatures of important Americans - including seven U.S. presidents, this book gives the reader an even greater understanding and admiration of quilting as Americana. Special features include an illustrated Highlights section and all-new technical appendix by Elena Phipps, the Museum's Senior Conservator in the Department of Textile Conservation. Museum curator and respected authority Amelia Peck contributes new scholarship and an informative and entertaining Introduction.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amelia Peck is Marcia F.Vilcek Curator of American Decorative Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She was the author of the original edition of American Quilts & Coverlets in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and has written several titles on historical architecture, including CANDACE WHEELER: THE ART AND ENTERPRISE OF AMERICAN DESIGN, 1875-1900 (2001) and PERIOD ROOMS IN THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (2004).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: MQ Publications (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979740002
• ISBN-13: 978-0979740008
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 10.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good photos except..., January 6, 2008

By 

Me and mine "fwq" - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Quilts & Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Hardcover)

This is all pretty good except for the close-up detail photos. Somebody cheaped out and didn't take actual close-up shots. Instead it seems they just enlarged the overall shot which comes out too blurry to be able to examine any detail. That is very disappointing in a book from the Met - also the editing seems a bit lax. I'm no grammar police, but there were several obvious mistakes.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Quintessential American Quilt Reference Book, January 18, 2008

By 

B. Wolov - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Quilts & Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Hardcover)

This is an expanded version of Amerlia Peck's writing on this subject origianlly published in 1990. It is well organized by type; the colors and the detail in the photogrpahs are mesmerizing. Peck has a talent for conveying information that is simultaneously instructive and entertaining. I'm impressed with the social, material, historic and design development range covered. Very comprehensive. I've given it as a gift more than once.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done revision!, August 3, 2008

By 

Kimberly Wulfert (Ojai, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Quilts & Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Hardcover)

This book offers very interesting historical reading about the museum's quilts, blankets and woven coverlets and personal histories connnected to the items. The majority of the collection come from northeastern American states. Special quilts and textiles are shown as well as everyday bed coverings used in the 18th-20th centuries.

The featured textiles include full photos of the item and large detail photos with incredible detail, letting you see the stitches, signatures, fabrics and woven sections of the coverlets. The book ends with a catalogue of their entire collection of American bed textiles, with two pictures per page and file information. Information like this is gold if you want the textile details, accession number, their notes and who gave it when type of facts. The index is laid out well, with bolded pattern and style names, useful!