Quilt Appraising Adventures - Seeing Stars

I love sharing my antique quilt collection in trunk shows and classes.
I also love seeing other people's quilts (both old, new, traditional, modern, and art) and sharing my knowledge with them and helping them appreciate their treasures. With antique and vintage quilts, it is a joy to be able to help them connect with the past.  And sometimes, I even get a minute to investigate quilts in my own collection (what I'm doing in the photo) between answering quilt appraisal questions.

 I was visiting my home state guild, the Utah Quilt Guild, in September and sharing my Antique Star Quilt trunk show. Here's a bit of the show.

What's on the back of Antique Pennsylvania Quilt

More of that wonderful Bethlehem Star from the Schwenkfelder Museum. Isn't that a stunning red backing?

A great brown stripe on the back of a pair of PA patchwork pillowcases from Ann Hermes - great presentation at AQSG

And another treasure from the Schwenkfelder

And another brown stripe from a signature quilt from the Schwenkfelder

More from Schwenkfelder Museum - Seeing Stars

I thought you might like seeing a close-up of some of the Stars I shared in full shots. Here is one and the full. Stay tuned for more

1840 Pennock Album Quilt - Chester County Pennsylvania

Another highlight of my visit to the Chester County Historical Society was seeing the Pennock Album Quilt made in Chester in the early 1840s. It has amazing inked illustrations. Enjoy

Antique Hexagon Quilt Chester County Historical Society

Another treasure from the Chester County Historical Society, part of the quilt appraiser continuing education seminar. We were treated to an amazing quilt turning. This hexagon Flower Garden was absolutely amazing with a huge number of fabrics.  1830s beauty!

And look at the wonderful fussy cutting! And people think that is something new.

And look at the beautiful chintz border!! A crowning glory!

Another antique quilt treasure from the Schwenkfelder Museum

There were all sort of wonderful treasures in the Schwenkfelder Museum in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Visited there as part of continuing education for appraisers via PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles). See more about both in yesterday's post.

The hand quilting on this 4 block applique quilt is absolutely stunning.

Antique Star Quilts - Stars from the Schwenkfelder Museum

As part of the continuing education for certified quilt appraisers - PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles) holds an annual seminar. Last year's was held in SE Pennsylvania and we visited two museums, Chester County Historical Society (see prior post) and the Schwenkfelder History Center and Museum in Pennsburg, PA. We were treated to a wonderful bed turning from their collection and the walls were festooned with fabulous star quilts. Here are a few. Enjoy.

Ps. Click on the link above or here for more information on Schwenkfelders. Super brief synopsis: A religious group from Southern Germany area, part of Protestant Reformation. Followers of Caspar Schwenckfeld. Many emigrated to SE Pennsylvania.

Antique Hexagon Delight -- Hexagon Quilt Madness

My 1880s Antique Hexagon Medallion quilt has so many wonderful fabrics. Here are some of my favorites. I especially like the faux or simulated needlepoint flower (black background) and the purple pansy next to it. And of course, the young man.

And there's the young man's friend below and the poor sad bird with the chopped off head :(

The musician may be part of the same fabric too. The bird is part of a faux patchwork crazy quilt print from the 1880s and their is another cheater print right below. There are also a couple of Centennial 1876 prints in the quilt. Enjoy!

Antique redwork quilt

 The funny guys, in the first two photos, are called Brownies and were created by an artist named Palmer Cox. They are seen most in the 1890s era but the quilt is a bit newer based on the Boy Scout insignia from about 1918.  **Sorry about the earlier blank post, technology is wonderful almost all the time ;) 

Antique Quilt Treasures - Oxford Seminary Quilt - Chester County Historical Society

If you are ever near the Philadelphia area - make a beeline for the Chester County Historical Society!!
They have amazing antique treasures, particularly quilts. Last summer I was blessed to visit CCHS with my fellow certified quilt appraisers from PAAQT aka the Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles. We visited as part of our continuing education training.

Among the amazing quilts we saw at CCHS was the famed Oxford Seminary Quilt from the 1840s. Enjoy a few photos. Let me know if you'd like to see more of this one and some others?

Antique Quilt - Wild Goose Chase Zigzag setting

Multigenerational quilt top - Wild Goose Chase Block in a zigzag setting from Michigan.

Antique Pillar Prints - Antique Fabric tutorial

After yesterday's post on neon prints, I thought I'd continue with another fabric terminology tutorial: Pillar Prints. Pillar prints are fabrics prominently depicting architectural columns or pillars (think Greek ruins or old Southern mansions).
This is my favorite - part of my Birds and Blooms trunk show or antique quilt study class. 1820s from England. Pillars with birds are the best!

Here's another -pillar print with baskets. This print was produced in at least 15 different colorways/versions. A ridiculously popular print. Backing fabric for a double 9 patch in my collection. ** Another fabric/color term is monochrome (aka one color) and this is the monochrome version. A multicolored would be a poly-chrome.

Antique Fabrics - Neon Prints

Neon prints were produced mainly at the end of the 1800s and the name is because they are brights set against darks like neon lights. Here are a few examples.

The bright green and pink backing on my Rocky Road to Kansas is a great example of a neon print or neon fabric

And that blue print below the cherubs is a good one too. By the way it was printed by Hamilton Printworks of Lowell, Massachusetts in 1881. And this is from the Tumbling Block Star with the 1881 calendar print.

This faux patchwork star print or cheater cloth is rather neony, as well.

Antique Heart Quilts -Hearts All Around

Hearts are all around,
Dated 1858 signature quilt from New York City. see more pictures and learn more information at this prior entry 

More from the 1858 Signature Quilt

Heart in Hand - central block in an 1850s applique quilt from Maryland. This block is full of Odd Fellows symbology.

Heart appliques on basket quilt from 1850/60 from New York State