Antique Lancaster County Amish Diamond in Square Quilt: Circa 1920

This stunning Diamond In The Square quilt is an example of the type of centrally focused pattern most favored by the Lancaster County Amish. Amish codes of conduct reject all forms of ostentation, pride, and vanity. Amish quilters therefore use patterns that are simple and feature nonrepresentational geometric shapes. They prefer piecing large fabric components and avoid appliqué. Representational imagery is allowed, however, in the quilting stitches worked subtly across a quilt’s surface. Here, the fine quilting stiches—visible only up close—form a central star surrounded by a feathered wreath, eight-pointed stars, roses, and tulips.