Quilt, Star of Bethlehem pattern variation ca. 1837-50 Ellen Morton Littlejohn Multicolored and patterned silks make up the very finely pieced star blocks. These alternate with unpieced blocks to a pink-and-green changeable silk. The unpieced blocks have been intricately quilted and stuffed, each with a different plant or flower. Carded cotton was used for the stuffed areas and the batting. The edge of the quilt is bound with lavender silk, and the backing is of solid pink glazed cotton.Two sisters, both enslaved African-Americans who worked for Marmaduke Beckwith Morton, made this silk quilt, which combines beautiful workmanship and sophisticated design. It originally adorned one of the beds in Mortons family seat, known as "The Knob". The quilt is composed of pieced blocks in the "Star of Bethlehem" pattern. In the interstices between the blocks, the plain silk areas are decorated with quilted floral and fern patterns, each one different. The quiltmakers, known as "Aunt Ellen" and "