Day 10 - A Month of Antique Quilts

This is another one of my favorites - a most unusual combination of blocks, especially for a signature quilt. Made in Easton, Pennsylvania.

There are signatures (names) in the centers of the pieced blocks. And the thing that always makes historians happy - an ownership, dedication block. 

Presentation quilt inscribed and dated: "Easton PA 1846. Presented to Solon Chapin by his Mother in law Mrs. Hocker 1846". This is the presentation block: (click to enlarge) and read

Here's the full quilt. It is a lovely combination of blocks. It is the only antique signature quilt that I've seen (so far) presented by a mother-in-law to her son-in-law. And, no, it wasn't made at the time of the wedding. But the pairing or marriage of blocks and techniques does seem appropriate for a son-in-law's quilt.

Day 8 - A Month of Antique Quilts

 Another pattern that I really like is the Caesar's Crown block and I have several that are signature quilts from the 1840s in Pennsylvania. This one from circa 1860 is also from Pennsylvania and though it is not a signature quilt it is still fabulous!!

Such yummy colors. Another name for the block is Strawberry and by the colors on this one, I can see how it got that name.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the secondary designs created when it is pieced without sashing. Look at the white background between the blocks. See the cross or four bells? Such a cool effect. Enjoy.  Ps. Wondering how the block was made? It is NOT appliqued; instead, it is all curved pieced by hand.

Day 6 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Starley Quilt Collection

 Another favorite is this 1850 Quaker signature quilt from Chester Co. Pennsylvania (right by Philadelphia). The quilt was made for Enoch and Mary Worrall and features extensive family genealogy. Such a piece of true history and it is beautiful too.

Look at this inked drawing of cupid's arrow !

And this is the center block showing ownership. Hexagon center reads: "Enoch and Mary Worrall's Quilt, 1850". The background of the block says " Enoch and Mary's children" and lists each child (both those living and deceased at that time). More blocks featuring other family members and family history while other feature friends, neighbors, fellow Quakers.

Antique Signature Quaker Quilt

 Zimmerman family quilt from Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania, 1840s - Starley antique quilt collection.

The quilt was made for Cecilia Zimmerman.

Detail from the Zimmerman quilt

Another one of the signature blocks

Happy to share these treasures with you in live presentations - in person or via Zoom. Contact me to arrange an antique trunk show and/or antique quilting study sessions or quilting classes. 

Antique Quilts - A Monthlong Celebration of Antique Beauty - Antique Red and Green Quilts

 I hope you have been enjoying this peek into my antique quilt vaults! This month has just been the tip of the antique quilt iceberg. I'm happy to share them NOW in VIRTUAL antique quilt trunk shows over Zoom and then in person once we can travel again.

Today's red and green antique quilt has lots of red and green (and pink and yellow and ...) but it isn't a traditional red and green quilt. It sure is a HAPPY quilt though. Circa 1855,1860s Courthouse Steps quilt pattern (variation of the Log Cabin quilt pattern) from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Starley antique quilt collection.

Here's the full quilt top. Isn't it a happy quilt? I'll bet you are smiling! Purchased from my friend Molly of Fourth Corner Quilts. Thanks Molly.

Antique Quilts - Day 19 - Antique Quilt Festival - Red and Green Quilts

Antique Quilts - A month of textile treasures. Day 19 follows up on the elaborate Bethlehem Star quilt shared yesterday. This is another amazing central star quilt surrounded by smaller stars - 4 full stars and 4 partial stars. Red and Green and more :)

 

Isn't that blue background just fabulous! Makes this look like THE Star of Bethlehem. Such a different feel from yesterday's central star quilt with a light background and applique motifs. 

The bright yellow backing is a more "recent" addition - this 1850/60s quilt top was likely backed and quilted a 100 years later in the 1950s. Here's the center - so striking.

Day 16 A Month of Antique Quilts! Red and Green Antique Caesars Crown Quilt

Last week I shared one of my antique Caesars Crown quilts from Southeastern Pennsylvania and said that I had more including some that are signature quilts. Here's one of my Caesar's Crown signature quilts - an amazing piece of history.

The full quilt. Such a formal quilt ... except that the placement of the white centers creates such movement.

A close-up of one of the blocks. Each block has a message like a "Tribute of Respect" along with the person's name and hometown.Most also have the classic signature quilt sentiment, "Remember Me When This You See" or simply "Remember Me" and the date of 1851.

"Tribute of Respect by Esther Eschbach/ Colebrookdale Tps, Berks Co PA Remember Me When This you see 1851" Click on block to see more detail and the yummy fabrics.

 The crowning detail is the ownership/dedication block reading"Elizabeth Bickel or Bectel -His (sic) Property In the Year of Our Lord 1851, Berks/Montgomery County Pennsylvania". 

This ownership block was appliqued to the quilt border before the quilt was quilted. It is done in German script called Fraktur writing by a professional writer or scrivener, William Ehst. The blocks were also written by him not the individuals named.

Part of my Sign of the Times, Antique Signature Quilt Trunk show and class. Now available as an online - Zoom class. 

 

Post 14: Antique Quilt Extravaganza: A Month of Antique Quilts Red and Green Quilt Festival

 Post 14 Red and Green Antique Quilt Festival. Okay, today's quilt is Pink and Green (close enough to Red, isn't it) and are quilt blocks (again, close enough, I hope). One of the happiest set of blocks, I've ever found. They come from SouthEastern Pennsylvania.

Aren't these blocks utterly delightful!! Somebody really liked to do applique!

And this is a mock-up of a quilt from the blocks (thanks Karen Alexander for this sample).

And finally, here is what I believe is the quilt made by the same maker (and my blocks are leftover blocks). Found by Donna Vitale in Maxatawny, Berks Co., PA (SE PA) and dated 1890. These blocks were all placed in the same direction, unlike the mock-up above.

Day 13 - A Month of Antique Quilts - Antique Red and Green Quilts

 Here's another antique Red and Green treasure, but a very different quilt from what you usually picture when you hear Red and Green Quilts. This is an antique signature quilt from Southeastern Pennsylvania and is a hand pieced and hand quilted quilt. 

The pattern is Rolling Stone and the blocks are set on point (diagonal set).

A close-up of one of the signature center squares, this for Levi Laudermilch (German) or Laudermilk in more English communities. This pattern was very popular for making signature quilts in the last half of the 19th century 1850 to 1890s in German communities in SE PA (areas around Philadelphia).

Another look that really shows off the cool feature of this quilt: the alternating red and green star blocks. There were a number of these signature Rolling Stone quilts made in SE PA but this is the only one I've found (so far) with an alternating star block.

Post 5: A Month Full of Antique Quilts - Antique Red and Green Caesar's Crown Quilt

 I love sharing these antique quilts with you. Thank you for all the nice comments so far, I really appreciate hearing from you. 

Here's another of my favorites (yes, almost all of these are my favorites - are you shocked?), a Red and Green Caesar's Crown from Southeastern Pennsylvania, circa 1860.

Be sure to click on the first picture to see it up close! It is all hand pieced NOT appliqued. Look at how sharp those points are!

 

My favorite feature of this pattern is the secondary design created when the blocks are set straight together with no sashing. Do you see the white cross or 4 white bells? You may have to squint a bit. 

You probably can see the cross now, I hope. Such a great pattern.

Here it is hanging out with 2 more antique Caeser's Crowns that are also from Southeastern PA. The others are signature quilts. 

Rocky Road

Things are so crazy that the Rocky Road to Kansas block seems an appropriate block to share.

This block is one of the featured designs in my Patterns Through Time lecture/trunk show. Can't wait until I can get out and share these again with quilt guilds.

Circa 1930, Rocky Road to Kansas quilt made in Utah by my great grandmother Isabelle Day Rogers. The backing is made of sacking (flour sacks) that she dyed at home - a bright bold yellow!

 1890 Rocky Road To Kansas made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Smaller scale and more planned out.

The two together as I would show them in my lecture.

Thanks for stopping by. Please comment and let me know other blocks you'd like to see or favorite eras, or styles.

A Jolly Quilt-mas, A Month of Antique Hand Quilting - Day 26 Red and Green French Star

I couldn't do a month of antique quilts without one of my favorite patterns, the French Star. To see another early French Star from the Starley collection, visit Day 3 of this month long journey.

Look at the beautiful grid background quilting and the curves in the swag. Click on photos to enlarge and see details.

Can't go wrong with a swag border and this one is quite impressive. The quilt is from Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, circa 1865/1870.

The uncommon French Star pattern is part of my Patterns Through Time trunk show (a combination of quilt history, eye candy, and humor). A recent review hailed it as the perfect blend of education and entertainment. The lecture features about a dozen patterns with at least 2 examples per pattern spanning the early 1800s to mid 1900s.  An example are the 2 French Stars below - red/green quilt circa 1870 and multi-colored top circa 1940s. I'd love to come share a bit of my collection with your guild, shop, or show. See more information in the pages (tabs below main banner photo, top of page).

French Star quilts are also part of my Antique Stars  and Quilt Masterpieces trunk shows. I also do custom designed lectures on request. Have Antique Quilts - Will Travel!

Antique (Inspired) Hand Quilting Month - Cheddar Baskets Day 23

Here is my hand quilted miniature Cheddar Baskets quilt made for the American Quilt Study Group 2016 Quilt Study of Basket Quilts. It is currently traveling with the Baskets exhibits. Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge and see details!

Here's my top (left) with the antique on the right. The original had only 3 fabrics, cheddar, blue, and pink. I kept that color scheme but used 13 different pinks and 13 different blues for a scrappier look. I use foundation paper piecing for the baskets and the sawtooth border. I hand quilted using the same patterns as used on the original.

And the full antique quilt - Mennonite Baskets Quilt, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, circa 1890.

Antique Hand Quilting - Mennonite Cheddar Baskets Day 22

Today's hand quilted quilt is a cheddar-licious basket quilt (tomorrow I'll share my reproduction quilt). It is a Mennonite Quilt from Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania. Don't forget to click on pictures to enlarge and see details.

There is a charming heart quilted inside every basket handle and another below each basket.  Lots of feathers and fleur de lys figures too. Diagonal quilting lines in the border. The blue fabric is a chambray and the pink is a delicate floral stripe. Last year I found the twin - exact same piecing and quilting. Maybe they were made for sisters.

Such a cheery quilt! Isn't that sawtooth border a perfect touch! Circa 1890. Starley Quilt Collection.

A Month of Antique Hand Quilting - Antique Signature Quilt Day 19

This lovely antique signature album/sampler quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection has a variety of charming hand appliqued blocks. The blocks have a variety of hand quilting patterns as well.
Isn't this a charming flower basket!

Dated 1879 - made in Tuscarora, Bradford Co. Pennsylvania.  This detailed rose and bud bear the sentiment: "Forget Me Not, Forget Me Never" -Em Wood.

The full quilt - sporting lots of wreaths and flowers and even a Bible (row 4, block 3).  Part of my antique signature quilt class.