American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1780-2007

This opulent volume starts with old-world traditions and goes up to date, examining key moments that had an impact on quilting culture—including Amish emigration, slavery and the Civil War, the Depression, new sewing technology, and the Bicentennial. More than 350 stunning images capture a rich variety of work created by people from all walks of life.

Sumptuous, informative, and engaging, this is the ultimate book on American quilts as art. Written by one of the leading scholars in the field, it’s a fascinating chronicle of the growth and evolution of an art form with a rich heritage. Not only does author Robert Shaw provide an insightful look at quilting aesthetics, he places the craft in its historical, cultural, and socioeconomic context, providing a visually lush journey through American history.

This opulent volume starts with old-world traditions and goes up to date, examining key moments that had an impact on quilting culture—including Amish emigration, slavery and the Civil War, the Depression, new sewing technology, and the Bicentennial. More than 350 stunning images capture a rich variety of work created by people from all walks of life.

Library Journal

For more than 200 years, American women have been weaving quilts, as goods for the home and as forms of artistic expression, community building, and historical and personal documentation. The story of American quilting is eloquently told here, set within a broad geographic scope, putting Shaw's expansive curatorial background to full advantage. A former consultant to Sotheby's and an expert on art quilts (her previous titles include The Art Quilt, Quilts: A Living Tradition, and America's Traditional Crafts), Shaw includes 350 full-color illustrations (many from private collections), along with a chronological survey featuring explanations of the diversity of quilting traditions, like those of the Amish and African Americans, and a list of resources on the history and documentation of quilts. VERDICT With its engaging text and images, this book is suitable for admirers of folk art, needle work, and the history of American craft.—Nancy B. Turner, Syracuse Univ. Lib., NY

Robert Shaw is a former curator of the Shelburne Museum, Sotheby’s consultant, and recognized authority on American folk art. He has written numerous books on American crafts.