Check fabric originally used to cover over an 18th century silk brocade fabric. Later used to make the quilt in the late 1700's. The blue check would have been applied later, sometime in the 19th century. The blue check fabric isn't quilted like the under layer quilt. The backing is like a work of art. The saffron dye of the backing has mottled over time. Hand stitched and hand quilted. There is a light cotton batting between the layers.