Amish Quilts

Janneken Smucker is an assistant professor of history at West Chester University. She is the coauthor of Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown and Amish Crib Quilts from the Midwest: The Sara Miller Collection. A volunteer with The Quilt Alliance, she is also a quiltmaker.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Made in America2. Amish Quilts, Amish Value3. Off of Beds and Onto Walls4. Folk Art and Women's Work5. The Fashion for Quilts6. From Rags to Riches7. Amish Intermediaries8. A Good Amish Quilt Folded Like Money9. Designed to Sell10. Homespun Efficiency11. The Amish Brand12. Outsourcing AuthenticityConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex

The gap between what artisans intend and what dealers and owners come to believe is entertainingly conveyed in this study by the textiles historian Janneken Smucker... The book is timely since the history of folk art collection is under scrutiny. The New York Times Just as people who buy the New Yorker for its cartoons feel they've gotten their money's worth without reading beyond the punch lines, readers may take this up for the pictures alone: they are sumptuous... [Smucker] writes appealingly and clearly, always defining quilt jargon and explaining cultural mores as she tells of the seemingly humble Amish quilts and the people who have loved them. Publishers Weekly (starred review) It is handsomely and colorfully designed, playing on the theme of Amish quilts... Highly recommended. Choice The story of the rise of Amish quilts tells us more about the values of the art world than it does about the Amish. Yet it is a story that reminds us that constraint fosters creativity, and scarcity creates desire. First Things A fascinating social history of the Amish quilt phenomenon. Homespun As a history of the Amish quilt as an art object and a study of the commercialism of products imbued with Amishness, this work is invaluable. Smucker's exploration of how non-Amish collectors have been able to define and impose value on Amish products and how dealers, Amish and non-Amish, have appropriated the appeal of 'Amishness' while trading on stereotypes sheds much light on how mainstream society constructs the identity of minority ethnic groups. Journal of Mennonite Studies This compelling book looks closely at one form of material culture-Amish quilts-illuminating both their particular role in American history and the holistic methods by which to examine material culture... The book is well written and organized, thoroughly researched, and beautifully illustrated... It provides an important material culture case study, reminding us to look carefully at multiple cultural contexts as we build historical narratives. Journal of American History A fascinating story of the influence that the art world and commercial demands can have on a craft. Smucker debunks the theory that all Amish quilts are dark and cautions the reader against falling into the trap of generalisation when discussing their design. It is a refreshing examination of the story of Amish quilts that highlights how the art world has defined their value. Textile History Amish Quilts presents a story that lives up to its subtitle's promise, explaining how these fabric creations have become American icons. Without sentimentality, she unfolds the events that have been too long packed away, revealing the actions and motives of many of the people who played significant roles in the creation of the quilt market and of making new meanings for these objects. The Mennonite Quarterly Review Smucker's engaging writing style and keen sense of American history and consumerism makes this book suitable for academic libraries that service art and fashion programs, textile collections and museums, and public repositories in communities where craft is integral to daily life. Art Libraries Society of North America Smucker has combined meticulous scholarship, clear presentation, and thoughtful analysis to give general readers, museum curators, art historians, and material culture specialists the wherewithal to consider such claims of authenticity. Winterthur Portfolio Janneken Smucker provides a fascinating account of Amish quilts by placing the quilts into the context of history, culture, art, economy, and community. Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies