Pakistani Ralli or Patchwork Quilt

A black and white lattice, cut clean and graphic.

Cotton scraps from Pakistan, sewn in the mid to late 20th century, became this ralli, or patchwork quilt. Quilts like this are often made from recycled cloth, layered and stitched through for warmth. Black diamonds and squares are pieced in a repeating lattice on white, with a narrow black border. The lattice is sharply defined, with the white shapes reading as strongly as the black. Contrast is the whole story here, and it is told cleanly. Nothing fussy gets in the way.

About 77 by 52 inches. A sharp-edged classic.