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Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival

01/19/2007 - 01/27/2007
Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival is an annual event sponsored by NHK (Japanese Public Television). In 2007, Shelly Zegart curated this exhibit and presented several examples of Antique Basket pattern quilts from the United States.

"Many children in America learned the 19th century nursey rhyme that opened with this line: 'A tisket a tasket a green and yellow basket.' In 1938 Ella Fitzgerald had hit song with these lyrics. In all cultures baskets have served men and women in every part of daily life. <...> Basket patterns, both pieced and applique, crept into American quilt design beginning in the early 19th century. What women saw around them every day served as their inspiration to create basket quilt blocks..."