- Created by
- Pettway, Mensie Lee, American, born 1939
- Subject of
- The Quilts of Gee's Bend, American, founded 1845
- Date
- 2007
- Medium
- corduroy and denim with muslin backing
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (framed): 96 × 87 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (243.8 × 222.9 × 6.4 cm)
- H x W x D (unframed): 91 × 84 × 3/4 in. (231.1 × 213.4 × 1.9 cm)
- Description
- This pieced quilt, entitled "Silo," is an example of the quilting styles of Gee's Bend, Alabama. The center of the quilt is constructed of black, red, orange, tan, olive green, and yellow strips of corduroy that are pieced together in vertically-oriented stripes. The center motif is surrounded by repurposed pant legs of denim jeans that are pieced in concentric steps, a design commonly called "log cabin" or "courthouse steps," and known in the Gee's Bend area as "bricklayer." Some of the pant legs retain the back pocket, which have all been machine-sewn shut with blue thread. The quilt is backed with plain white muslin. The quilt is bound from back to front with red corduroy. It is hand quilted using widely spaced stitches in off-white thread that is sewn in a grid pattern. In one corner on the muslin backing the text "Made August 26, 2007" is hand written in black ink.
- Place made
- Rehoboth, Gee's Bend, Boykin, Wilcox County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
- Textiles and Quilts
- Type
- presentation quilts
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Graham Holdings Company
- Object number
- 2014.276.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Mensie Lee Pettway/ Artists Rights Society
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




