Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. - Morning Glory
Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) as seen at the Denver Botanic Garden.
Early botanical illustration of Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory) (published as Convolvulus purpureus) in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Vol. 4, Plate 113, 1791.
Two different examples of Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) from the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, 1790-1800
Common Names: Morning Glory, Bind Weed
Description: Over 1,000 species in the Morning Glory or Bindweed family (Convolvulaceae) are known by the common name Morning Glory. Of these, plants in the genera Convolvulus sp. and Ipomoea sp. are among the most common. These numerous species are all called Morning Glory because the flowers are quite similar in appearance. These facts make providing a specific scientific name for motifs of these flowers as illustrated on early chintzes impossible. The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, Vol. 1 lists forty-six species of Convolvulus and sixteen species of Ipomoea from both the Old and New World including Britain.
Additionally, 104, or 23%, of a randomly selected sample of 447 chintz samples, quilts, and other textiles from between 1775 and 1860 had morning glories as part of the decorative motifs. Thus, this web page will show a imited selection rather than trying to depict a broad range of examples. Hopefully because Morning Glories are well loved and widely grown garden plants, undocumented examples will be easily recognized. The most common colors are blues, purples, pinks, and white.
Quilts with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
Chintz with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
Additional Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) Motifs
Description: Over 1,000 species in the Morning Glory or Bindweed family (Convolvulaceae) are known by the common name Morning Glory. Of these, plants in the genera Convolvulus sp. and Ipomoea sp. are among the most common. These numerous species are all called Morning Glory because the flowers are quite similar in appearance. These facts make providing a specific scientific name for motifs of these flowers as illustrated on early chintzes impossible. The Hortus Kewensis, ed. 2, Vol. 1 lists forty-six species of Convolvulus and sixteen species of Ipomoea from both the Old and New World including Britain.
Additionally, 104, or 23%, of a randomly selected sample of 447 chintz samples, quilts, and other textiles from between 1775 and 1860 had morning glories as part of the decorative motifs. Thus, this web page will show a imited selection rather than trying to depict a broad range of examples. Hopefully because Morning Glories are well loved and widely grown garden plants, undocumented examples will be easily recognized. The most common colors are blues, purples, pinks, and white.
Quilts with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
- None known at this time
Chintz with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
- Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Textile Panel, Object Number 1969.3168, 1790-1800
Additional Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) Motifs
The Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Appliqué Spread, dated 1863 has eight different versions of Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif spread across several of the quilts blocks. Pictures courtesy of the Edisto Island Museum.
Quilts with these Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motifs:
- Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Appliqué Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, p. 84, dated 1863
Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) from the Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Album Quilt Made by Mary V. Yeadon, 1848-1849
Quilts with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
- Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Album Quilt Made by Mary V. Yeadon, Object Number 2006.003.0005, Chintz Applique: from Imitation to Icon, p. 7, Plate 18, 1848-1849
- Patricia S. Smith Collection, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Pieced and Appliqued Bedcover (Center Medallion), Object Number 1998.149.9, Calico and Chintz: Antique Quilts from the Collection of Patricia S. Smith, p. 68-69, c. 1810-1840
- Shelburne Museum, Chintz Appliquéd Album Quilt, Chintz Quilts: Unfading Glory, p. 44, 1844-1856
- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Block-Printed Cotton Quilt Top Made by James Betts, Object Number 1970-194, c. 1840
- Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Appliqué Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, p. 84, dated 1863 (as seen in the preceeding list)
Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Appliqué Spread, dated 1863. Picture courtesy of the Edisto Island Museum.
Quilts with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
- Edisto Island Museum, Edisto Album Chintz Appliqué Spread, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, p. 84, dated 1863
- Collection of Mary Elizabeth (Howle) Nelson, Alpharetta Chintz Appliqué Album Spread Begun by Sarah Edings (Mikell) Pope and Completed by Virginia Mikell (Pope) Allen, "Lowcountry Chintz: The Townsend/Pope Quilt Legacy", Uncoverings 2013, p. 85, c. 1860s and dated 1935
Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) from the Chintz Appliqué Quilt, Margaret Donaldson Boggs, Piladelphia, 1844, Cotton, 2016.0010.001, Museum purchase with funds provided by the Henry Francis DuPont Collectors Circle, Courtesy of Winterthur Museum
Quilts with this Convolvulus sp., Ipomoea sp., etc. (Morning Glory) motif:
- Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Chintz Appliqué Quilt, Object Number 2016.0010.001, dated 1844
- Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Bars and Flying Geese Chintz Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0486, c 1830-1850
- Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion Quilt, Object Number 2001.015.0001, Chintz Applique: from Imitation to Icon, Plate 16, c. 1852
- Ardis and Robert James Collection, International Quilt Museum, Medallion Quilt, Object Number 1997.007.0479, Chintz Appliqué: from Imitation to Icon, Plate 15, dated 1843 and 1844
- Collection of M. Finkel & Daughter, Appliqué Chintz crib Quilt Made for Mary E. Price by Her Mother, Forget Me Not: A Gallery of Friendship and Album Quilts, p. 18, dated 1847
- Maryland Historical Society, Chintz Appliquéd Album Quilt, Object Number 1997.12.1, The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition, p.101, c. 1845-1855
- Private Collection Courtesy of Susan Aasen McGregor, Pieced and Appliquéd Quilt Made by the Family of Emily Quail Moon, Quilts of Virginia, 1607-1899, p. 32, c. 1840
- The Massillon Museum, Pieced and Appliqué Broderie Perse Quilt Made by Isabel Hall Hurxthal, Treasury of American Quilts, p. 146, 1835-2846
- Philadelphia Museum of Art, Quilt Block, Accession Number 2012-41-14, 1843-1845
© Updated 10/8/2023 Author: Terry Terrell