Birds in the Air Variation by Maker once known
Maker once known, purchased in Alabama, Birds in the Air Variation, 1930s, cotton, 94 × 64 inches, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, purchase through funds provided by patrons of Collectors Evening 2017, 2017.184.
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The four central columns of directional triangles are a riff on Birds in the Air that are disrupted in their uniformity by the flipping of several triangles in the bottom row to create nestled blue and white rhombuses.
The cotton is yellowed, which indicates its exposure to acidic elements and led the conservator to recommend washing it. Before it was washed, tests were conducted to determine if the color of the blue blocks would seep into the white fabric. They did not, so the quilt was submerged in successive baths of deionized water to reduce the acidity levels in the fibers and hopefully reduce some of the stains.
Some stains remain as a reminder of its past life.
During conservation, small holes were supported using patched underlays of fine cotton, stitched to secure.
Maker once known, purchased in Alabama, Birds in the Air Variation, 1930s, cotton, 94 × 64 inches, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, purchase through funds provided by patrons of Collectors Evening 2017, 2017.184.