Antique Hand Quilting Antique Hearts Signature Quilt Day 28

Today's antique hand quilted quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection is full of LOVE!

It was made for a beloved Sunday School teacher - Esther McAllister whose husband was the reverend of the Willet Street Church (Methodist Episcopalian) in New York City. But is was made for her because of her works not because she was the pastor's wife. This is shown by the poignant poem below:

Antique Signature Quilt -Belleville Kansas

Charming blue chimney album block from Belleville, Republic Co., Kansas. Circa 1920. Starley signature quilt collection.

The blue and white in a staggered, zigzag setting is quite wonderful!

Block for Eliza? Boggs

Mary B. Cory's block has a charming equestrian (horsey) novelty print. Commonly seen at the turn of the century in Kansas. 

Dora B. Spencer?

Sign here: Delaware Valley signature quilt

I collect and study early signature quilts, particularly those from the Delaware Valley -Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland and from 1840-1870.

(ps. I'd love to bring them to your quilt study group, shop, or quilt guild or show)

Here's a few "signature" details from and 1840's signature quilt from Delaware and PA.  Signature* because most of the blocks are not signed by hand but are inked or stamped.

 Bird stamped block and the antique bird stamp

  Detailed inked drawing.

Another bird stamp- Eagle and stars.

Wild and Crazy Quilt

A truly strange and wonderful and crazy quilt! I'd love to meet the maker of this quilt. She (or he) enjoyed cheater fabric (preprinted or faux patchwork) and animals as much as me.

 And how many quilts include appliqued pigs? Sowee :)  The red mariner's compass next to the horse is a cheater print, the sunflowery one is pieced.

Dated 1887, sampler. Love the cross block in the center echoed by the 2nd red/brown pieced cross.

Day 13 (44) 1850s PA Signature Star

1840s and 1850s Signature Quilts are the true stars of my collection. I find them quite intriguing and it is very interesting to investigate the names/signatures and try to find out where they were made and WHY. Turkey Reds were the most commonly used fabric color for signature quilts and is seen in solids and prints and often paired with red or just with white. T. reds are also seen with multi colors.

1850s Pennsylvania/Delaware signature quilt. Investigation pending... stay tuned.
Unusual Turkey Red print with a lot of different colors in a single busy print.

More of the quilt.

The full quilt. 

Sweet sixteen - Maryland Album

Sixteen block -early 1840s Maryland signature album quilt that contains one of my favorite signature blocks done by Evalina Shaw and dated Dec'r (December) 1841. The quilt is from Carroll and Frederick County, Maryland.
Love the swag with music notes and "Peace to the Mind" and the fab tassels at the ends. And the lyre and the flower basket and flowers, etc. etc. And all of this in just a 2 inch square.
  Be sure to click on the images to see the wonderful details. I think the art work is from an extremely detailed stencil.

The fabric paired with Evalina's amazing block is a faux needlework print - imitating crewel work.

Here's another with block printed (stamped) green leaf details. It was hard to get the stamp in just the right place and they tend to look clunky. (sorry for the glare but it made the details stand out)

more interesting fabric

A beautiful leaf print - buff and tan

The full quilt - it is crib sized but has 3 different bindings/edge finishes which is unusual. Purchased from Julie Silber- Quilt Complex who did NOT cut it.  Unknown if it was cut down from a full/bed sized quilt to make 4 quilts for 4 family members or cut into "crib quilts" in the 1980s when people were doing that to cash in on the crib quilt/doll quilt market. Maybe some day, I will find more of it - I can dream! 

Day 9 Caesars Crown

I've had a single Caesar's Crown quilt top for about 8 years but this spring/summer I (somehow) ended up with 4 more including 3 signature or name inscribed quilts. The most striking one is this red, green and cheddary SE PA signature quilt from 1851. From 2 small townships in Berks/Montgomery Co, PA

A presentation quilt for Elizabeth Bickel with sentiments of "tribute of respect" and "when this you see, remember me" on the blocks. The makers used a professional scrivener - a person paid to inscribe the names and the blocks and the also the dedication block. There are Pennsylvania German's - note it says "his" property. The scrivener likely lived in a German speaking world.

Beautiful quilting - unusual to see so much lovely quilting in a signature quilt.

Antique Quilt Retreat St George Utah Jan. 2016

Detail of signature album quilt, New York City, 1858

Do you love antique quilts? Have you been saying you want to learn about quilt history and see lots of antique quilts, up close? Well, now is your chance! I will be doing a 4 day antique quilt study retreat as part of the Quilt St. George quilt retreat on January 6-9, 2016 in St. George, Utah. If you don't live within easy driving distance, you can fly into Las Vegas and drive over (only 120 miles).

I will be doing 4 antique quilt/quilt history presentations:

Dinner lecture Wednesday a Quilted Garden
Come see a field full of beautiful floral applique quilts. And no garden is complete without birds (on quilts), so I'll bring plenty of those too!

Detail of basket quilt with appliques, New York, c. 1850

Antique Quilt and Genealogy Roadshow
Learn how to find out more about your family history from inherited quilts and how to research signature quilts. And of course, you'll see wonderful quilts.

Signature Block, dated 1853

Sweet Little Things
Love antique doll and crib quilts? Time to see delightful antique doll and crib quilts and make a reproduction doll quilt too.

Whig Rose with birds, crib quilt. c. 1850

Quilt dating game Saturday Lunch Lecture

Come play the quilt dating game and learn about quilt dating, appraising, values, etc. And see a lot of amazing antique quilts.

c. 1885 Tumbling Block Star Quilt, SE PA

Antique Rolling Stone Quilts

I have way too many favorite quilts - favorite eras, blocks, styles, etc.  But among my most favorite are Pennsylvania signature quilts -  both applique and Rolling Stone blocks.  Here's a Rolling Stone from 1852:

Dated 1852 for Sarah Xander, Weisenburg Township, Lehigh Co, PA

And here's a detail - the inscription in the center of the quilt - note the old spelling of Miss (Mifs)

And here's another with the unusual addition of a star alternating block

Lebanon Co, PA signature quilt 1870/1880

Levi H. Laudermilch

 To read more about this pattern, check out my column- my regular column in the National Quilting Association's Quilting Quarterly magazine.  It is in the current issue

Antique Odd Fellows Quilt

Detail of center block, c. 1840

A few months ago, I happened upon a very interesting quilt with an extra unusual center block.  The auction house said it was an 'Odd Fellows' quilt.  I didn't know much about the fraternal organization but our antique quilt group on facebook quickly provided me lots of info on the symbols (iconography),  Ronda Harrell and Tim Latimer were amazingly helpful as was Ronda's 1850's manual. 

From Ronda -" Odd Fellow emblems are divided by Degrees. The emblems of the Initiatory Degree are: 1) the All-seeing Eye which symbolizes the scrutinizing gaze of Omniscience is ever upon us; 2) the Heart and the Hand which denotes candor, frankness, sincerity; 3) the three links for friendship, love and truth; 4) the Bee-Hive which denotes the power of association, order, and industry in the promotion of good works. The shining sun is an emblem of the Frist Degree which teaches impartiality in general benevolence and represents truth in its purity and glory. The emblems of the Second Degree are the arrows which to the Odd Fellow, these weapons of war are emblems of peculiar means to preserve from danger and to maintain peace. The piece which looks similar to a yoke, and the two bowls on either side of the hand is symbolic of the scales along with the crossed swords under the hand is a symbol of the Fourth Degree which represents just prudence which weighs will and truly every motive and every action and corrects every aberration from right. Finally, the crescent moon, usually seen with 7 stars, represents friendship, love and truth shining in the night of misfortune. . .  . "hour glass which is an emblem of the Royal Purple Degree. It symblolizes the speedy passage of time and admonishes us to improve the moments as they fly in a manner that shall reflect the glory of God and our own and our neighbor's good."

The center block has lots of dense quilting while the other blocks have little. 

1844 PA Signature Stars

One of many signature/name blocks in my dated 1843-44 Ohio Star quilt from Philadelphia and surrounding towns.  This block for Henry Jones was stamped with a signature stamp with 2 charming cherubs (angels) on top and anchors and maybe a lyre on bottom.

Here is the full quilt, very large 104" x 108" with a variety of signatures/names from Philadelphia, PA and several Welsh Quaker towns like Tredyffrin, Gwynedd, also Bristol, Bucks Co, Montgomery etc.   Some of the surnames are Green, Simmers, Foulke, Lukens, Jones, Downing, Huffnagle.  Based on the towns and surnames and also a Quaker style dating method, I believe this is a Quaker quilt.

And here is the fabulous highly glazed cotton chintz backing fabric

 Love this wonderful little bird carrying a ribbon for RL Simmers.  Several blocks have the Simmers name.

And here's the block for CE Green:  a grape vine branch.  A number of blocks also have Green surnames.

Please let me know if you have any questions or have any information to add.

Your comments and questions are most appreciated.





Antique Crib Quilt and Alliance for American Quilts Contest

circa 1845 antique crib quilt, block detail

Hope you'll indulge me in sharing my circa 1845 Shenandoah Valley of Virginia antique crib quilt and my reproduction again, I have number of new followers since springtime and I think they'll enjoy seeing it and...... I also want to let people know there are a few days left in the Alliances Viewers Choice contest (voting closes 9 p.m. eastern time on Monday Oct. 24th.  Below is my miniature reproduction, Virginia is for Lovers, size 16 x 16.  It is hand appliqued (the little baskets are only 1.5" tall) and hand quilted.  Quilt number 117 in the contest.  Go to http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3samo2ogn3k75iz/a01ztgu2x75ev/questions ** If that link does not work or shows survey already taken, then go to
http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/, click on link "View, vote, bid! Viewer's Choice Voting" and on next page click on "View, Vote, Bid" to get to the survey.  Again it is number 117.  This contest is separate from the springtime voting (I am thrilled to say that I won 3rd prize in that voting).  Thank you for the support.

Virginia is for Lovers, reproduction quilt, 2011, 16" x 16"



Antique quilt and reproduction

To learn more about both quilts, put crib quilt or Virginia in the search box.

circa 1845, antique crib quilt

1845 Crib Quilt Finished- Alliance for American Quilts

Virginia is For Lovers  2011 
16 x 16"

   I am very pleased to share the 3rd quilt I have made for the Alliance for American Quilts Challenge Contest.  It is a reproduction of a very romantic antique crib quilt circa 1845 from Virginia with lots of hearts and cupid's arrows -hence the title "Virginia is for Lovers".  Don't forget to look at my prior posts to see lots of photos of the quilt's progress.  You can click on 2011 on the blog archive to see/read all about it.  It was quite hard to part with it on Monday and I think my Mom even thought about hiding it so she could keep it.

  

   In April, Alliance members will vote to determine contest winners - so join now to vote for my quilt (subtle hint).  And  on April 27-30 the 2011 contest quilts will debut at the American Quilter's Society's 27th annual show in Paducah, Kentucky. So please stop by and see my quilt if you are lucky enough to be in KY.

Here is the my new quilt on the section of antique original that I reproduced:

Old and New (click on photo to enlarge)

   But seriously, I hope all of you already know about and have joined the Alliance.  It is such a great organization "whose mission is to document, preserve, and share our American quilt heritage by collecting the rich stories that historic and contemporary quilts, and their makers, tell about our nation's diverse peoples and their communities."  What an inspiring mission and it is such a great resource.

Here is a before and after photo to remind us all that quilting really does 'make the quilt'!   Enjoy!