February 13 - 15, 2006 - QuiltHistory

Quilt Dating, Quilt History Resources, Restoration & Conservation

These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

Primary topics of this QHL Digest:

Reproduction Quilt Mistaken for Harriet Powers’ Work — Members discuss a China-made reproduction quilt at a Cincinnati auction being conflated with the work of folk artist Harriet Powers.
Quilt Appraisal Standards and Costs — A conversation on USPAP professional appraisal standards and typical appraisal fees for antique quilts. (see the article on quilt appraisers)
Clementine Hunter Quilt Attribution and Value — Discussion of quilts associated with folk artist Clementine Hunter and how her outsider-art status affects their market value.
Stories of Quilts Rescued from Unusual Places — Members share personal stories of finding and rescuing old quilts in unexpected settings.

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 20:22:19 -0500 | From: “Beth Davis” <bethdan533@>

Good evening, Just skimming through eBay, when the dollar figure of $17,950.00 caught my attention. The quilt is Item number: 7389992591 and looks to be a version of the Pine Cone technique (reference Cuesta Benberry’s explanation: http://www.oldstatehouse.com/piece-of-my-soul/quilts-types/highlighted.asp?hid=5)

The information on the quilt references the maker as Clementine Hunter. I found the description a bit pretentious, saying that the appraised value is BETWEEN $32,500 and $37,500 and that the appraisal will be included. There was a different quilt, listed to be by the same quiltmaker by the same dealer in January for the cost of $11,725.00 for which there were no bids. (Item number: 7384275353) with basically the same description.

I thought that these interesting in light of the recent discussions regarding dealing with eBay, with sales of African-American quilts and also by the references to the appraisals, which and correct me if I am wrong, can only be legally used by the original client/owner (and there is no date of the appraisal mentioned)

Any thoughts to this?

Regards, Beth Davis

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 17:15:18 -0800 | From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplex@>

Ohhhhhhhhh, how I have TRIED to stay out of this! But this must have been the proverbial straw .

I e-mailed the seller of the following quilt on eBay, asking if s/he had documentation on the quilt. And if not why did s/he call if “African American”

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7390357605&sspagename=AD ME:L:RTQ:US:1> &item=7390357605&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

Here is the (unsigned) (unedited) answer:

” Nope, no docs on this quilt. Bought it in Brevard County, FL, which has been an orange grove community since the 1800’s. There are many ‘styles’ or ‘categories’ of quilts, and one of them is ‘African American’. There are many quilt dealers and collectors with these quilts in their possession and it’s easy to recognize. Once doesn’t have to know the artisan…. “

The arrogance got my (proverbial) GOAT! So, I wrote back (unedited):

” Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to give me the factual information and your opinion. I respectfully strongly disagree with your ideas about categorizing quilts. I have done quite a bit of thinking and studying about this – and would be happy to share my thoughts with you if you wish. Just let me know.

I think there are some things that may surprise you in the current scholarly (documented) material published on the subject.

Sincerely,

Julie Silber (oldquilts on eBay)

The Quilt Complex POB 729 Albion, Ca 95410 “

I will post the any further correspondence between us.

Julie Silber

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:36:38 -0800 | From: <chrisa@>

Julie- I clicked on the top URL below and this is what came up This listing (#) has been removed or is no longer available. Please make sure you entered the right item number.

If the listing was removed by eBay, consider it canceled. Note: Listings that have ended more than 90 days ago will no longer appear on eBay.

Try searching for another item now.

Perhaps you did more good than you know!!

Kim Wulfert www.antiquequiltdating.com

I e-mailed the seller of the following quilt on eBay, asking if s/he had documentation on the quilt. And if not why did s/he call if “African American” http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7390357605&sspagename=AD ME:L:RTQ:US:1> &item=7390357605&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1 Here is the (unsigned) (unedited) answer: ” Nope, no docs on this quilt. Bought it in Brevard County, FL, which has been an orange grove community since the 1800’s. There are many ‘styles’ or ‘categories’ of quilts, and one of them is ‘African American’. There are

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:54:03 -0500 | From: “Bill Volckening” <williamvolckening@>

The item is still listed.

It is item # 7390357605.

Bill

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:48:55 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

> The quilt is Item number: 7389992591 and looks to be a version of the Pine >

Hello from snowy Flemington.

The Clementine Hunter is still listed. I got there by cutting and pasting the number in the search box, but got the error message when I tried to use the link.

Most of the quilts in that pattern that I have seen have been bull’s eyes. This one is in squares.

Judy, now in Flemington NJ aka The Ringoes Kid judygrow@

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 22:03:52 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

I wrote to the seller about that “valuable” appraisal.

” You did give Dr. Ryan’s bona fides and stated that he would write the appraisal. I don’t think he is qualified, being an interested party, to give an appraisal on his own property. He has a unique interest in having it sell for a high price. No insurance company would accept his appraisal on his own property, but would require an outside appraiser, a disinterested person, to put a value on the quilt.”

Judy, now in Flemington NJ aka The Ringoes Kid judygrow@

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:22:27 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

It seems that there are two quilts on E-bay that are being discussed on QHL, and I picked the more expensive one to comment about. It does seem to have provenance as an African American quilt……….

The quilt I commented about is number 7389992591, a quilt by Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter, who died in 1988. The dealer is purportedly selling off the collection of one of her major patrons and collectors, Dr Robert Ryan, at his request.

I located a couple of her paintings on panels with photos affixed on-line and they are about $3000 each. Is this quilt really worth $18,000?

Would one of the appraisers on the list comment about having the collector appraise and value articles in his own collection.

thanks

Judy, now in Flemington NJ aka The Ringoes Kid judygrow@

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:09:37 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

In a message dated 2/13/2006 1:41:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, patchworksecrets2@ writes:

http://www.nsa.gov/museum/museu00033.cfm

You sent a great site – I, for one, do not believe 99% of the UGRR and its history even tho there are supposedly ‘safe houses’ here in VT. But it is interesting to read the various interpretations of quilts and the UGRR. Also, that site is very, very interesting. Thanks for sharing it Mitzi from snowless Vermont.

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:40:48 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

In a message dated 2/13/2006 3:12:19 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, pat@ writes:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/underground_railroad_and_quilt_blocks.htm

Just (sleepless in VT) your site and the UGRR publication – printed it out and it will be my breakfast read this am. Thank you for sharing it – the UGRR and its myths has been intriguing to me for a long time. But, I am writing to see if you do lectures, etc.at quilt guilds? I am currently the President of the Green Mountain Quilt Guild (the Guild of the State’s guilds) and we meet 2 times a year for speakers and fun. Is this something you do – come to guilds and or meetings and speak on the UGRR, ETC. I think it would be great draw for our group sometime in 2007 (May to be exact). We pay the guest’s fee and all expenses. I think I read that you were in Concord, NH and we (Green Mtn.) meet in Bethel, VT so your trip would not be very long and would not mean a night stay over. Just curious – would appreciate hearing from you. Now I am off to my morning tea and your 21 page article that looks really interesting. Mitzi Oakes Burlington, VT (802)863-2160 mitzioakes@ or stubswede@ PS – Happy Valentine’s Day (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS)

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:54:05 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

In a message dated 2/13/2006 8:16:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, bethdan533@ writes:

http://www.oldstatehouse.com/piece-of-my-soul/quilts-types/highlighted.asp?hid =5)

Well, the ‘quilt’ is certainly different – I can see why it is so heavy what with being layered like it is – but to bid on it at that cost? Rather not!!!!! Thanks for sharing. Mitzi from snowless Vermont

(http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZS) Happy Valentine’s Day!

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 04:55:49 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

Will be looking for any further correspondence..! Happy Valentine’s Day Mitzi from Snowless Vermont

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 08:53:19 -0500 | From: Lloyd E Miller <lemiller@>

Kris’s picture somehow got reversed. On the quilt block the woman is on the left. The information this group comes up with is wonderful!

Linda Miller

Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:15:22 -0800 | From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplex@>

Julie Silber here with an UPDATE on my correspondence with Mr/Ms Anonymous on his/her quilt “billed” as “African American.” (See yesterday for the first exchanges.)

His/her (again unsigned and unedited) response:

“It doesn’t matter to me what other people’s opinions are about traditional quilts. These quilts are certainly not traditional, have no traditional patterns, and are usually not accepted as art. But that doesn’t matter to me. Anyone can write a book about their opinions on art. I’ve been a writer for years and I know. Also, my sister is an art historian and an art dealer. We have had many conversations about what constitutes art, how it’s categorized, and who creates the categories. It basically comes down to anyone’s opinion. I also have done quite a bit of thinking and studying on this, and in the art world, nothing is concrete – a description is just a description and as they say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. If I feel like making a list of categories, that’s my business and I don’t care to line up behind the “scholarly and documented material on the subject”. Because this is just art. And it also doesn’t matter how many people agree or disagree with me. I’m also seldom surprised what people think or write about what they think…I’ve been around too long for that.”

My answer to that (unedited):

“Hi Mr. or Ms. Anonymous, I see that you are very confident in your own ideas, and obviously not interested in others’. Though remarkably narrow, I assume that position must be very comfortable for you. Thanks again for taking the time to share your opinions. Sincerely, Julie Silber”

I wonder why I am so cranky???

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 09:28:17 EST | From: DDBSTUFF@

Not sure if you’ve already discussed this or not but Cowan’s Auction, in Cincinnati has an auction Feb 18th with one of the Smithsonian’s Chinese made Harriet Potter Quilts.

I emailed them, telling them about it being the Smithsonian quilt and that it was made in China. They changed their description to say “Reproduction Appliqued Quilt with Figures in the Manner of Harriet Potter” They don’t mention that it is a Smithsonian Produced Quilt or that it was made in China

(http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html) If anyone wants to take a look click on _http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html_ (http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html) .

do a search of quilt and scroll down to #472

If you agree with my assessment, email them at joe@

Darwin

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 07:07:16 -0800 (PST) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>

I checked the site but did not see the quilt. At any rate, the woman’s name was “Harriet Powers,” not “Potter.”

Pat

— DDBSTUFF@ wrote:

> Not sure if you’ve already discussed this or not but > Cowan’s Auction,

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 07:27:26 -0800 (PST) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>

Dear Julie and others:

Someone once jokingly referred to the Quilt Police and then followed up by saying, “Of course, there really is no such thing.” Well, it was a funny concept, but you know what, we, as members of various lists, have BECOME the Quilt Police!

We really, really want others to be honest in their claims and their descriptions, and it bothers us a great deal when they are not.

Lately, it seems that homeowners have been racing to their attics to “rediscover” some family artifact so that they can turn it into a buck on eBay.

I used to read all the listings and write to some of the sellers to explain why their descriptions were wrong, or why the time frame was not right. There is little gratitude for that behavior. In fact, it is probably considered to be an act of “interfering with an auction.”

No wonder you are feeling cranky, Julie. The masses DO NOT care, plain and simple. Some sellers just want to make money, at any cost, and usually the cost is that of compromising scholarship.

It took me a long time to realize that people do not want to be confused with the facts.

Personally, I have just had to turn away from certain auctions with their wild claims, such as one that said that a Redwork piece was made in 1830. When questioned, the seller said that she “could tell the date by the thread twist and thickness and weave of the linen.” Never heard of such a thing, but the answer might sound convincing to those who are less informed.

I applaud your efforts, Julie. Don’t let the uncaring get you down. You have more textile information in the tip of your little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. Thanks for trying to share some of that knowledge. As for the person you were trying to inform, well, consider it his loss.

Cheers,

Pat Cummings

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 07:38:07 -0800 | From: Julia Zgliniec <rzglini1@>

Dear Judy and QHL. I will jump in here at your request. USPAP ( Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practise) clearly states that an appraiser can have no interest in the items which they appraise. I copied the following from the web page of The Appraisal Foundation.

http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/s_appraisal/index.asp

Standards Rule 8-3

(This Standards Rule contains binding requirements from which departure is not permitted.)

Each written personal property appraisal report must contain a signed certification that is similar in content to the following form:

I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

I have no (or the specified) present or prospective interest in the property that is the subject of this report and no (or the specified) personal interest with respect to the parties involved….

There is much more included in the certification but this is the part relevent to this discussion. Regards, Julia Zgliniec, Appraiser, Poway, CA

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 08:17:50 -0800 | From: Julia Zgliniec <rzglini1@>

Dear QHL,

OOPS, the following part of my “cut and paste” from the USPAP certification did not appear in my post as it should have. Clearly an owner has bias for the property if they are appraising it for themselves.

“I have no bias with respect to the property that is the subject of this report or to the parties involved with this assignment. “

Sorry for the error – hopefully this makes sense now.

Julia

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 09:14:14 -0800 | From: “alan” <alan@>

The question is, is there a person willing to spend 18,000 on this quilt. I’m not familiar with the maker, and her work just may be worth this, but you have to have a buyer. And the good doctor isn’t even an appraiser, he only knows what he’s willing to part with to acquire a piece. This person does have a painting from his collection, and it starts at 3, 775.

Does anyone know if these prices are reasonable?

Alan

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 11:32:24 -0600 | From: “kim baird” <kbaird@>

Hey, quilt artists–let’s not complain if someone is selling our work at art market prices!

Kim

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 10:19:32 -0800 | From: “alan” <alan@>

Hey, if I could only *get* that kind of price (I’m working on that). Here’s to dreaming.

But I still want to know if the prices these people are asking for are in line for this woman’s work.

Alan

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 13:34:45 -0500 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>

Jumping another rabbit (changing the subject in carolina-ese), recently I came upon an ebay auction with an interesting wooden octagonal mailing tube and several unopened tins of c1900 dyes. Back-n-forth with questions to the seller and then emailed the auction info to a friend who’s a chemistry professor. Whee-o! Turns out the ancient powdered dyes were very cargenogenic and downright dangerous. “Must wear facemask, do not let the powder touch your skin-” etc etc. I served as the intermediary and conveyed all this dire info to the seller who immediately revised the auction and disposed of the dyes, as per the professor’s recommendations. Who knew? This incident turned out fine but my hat’s off to Julie for taking on the biased and narrow opinion of the pinecone quilt seller. One of these quilts appeared on Antiques Roadshow and now they’re forever “folk art and rare.” From Pepper Cory (who’s seen a bunch of these quilts at flea markets in the South and lumps them in with yo-yo creations and ‘puff’ comforters as oddities in our field)

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:01:51 -0500 | From: “Bill Volckening” <williamvolckening@>

Hi Pepper,

I think Julie was talking about the Housetop quilt…item #7390357605.

I also contacted the seller, and got a less arrogant reply. Apparently, more than a dozen people have contacted this seller about the label. It may not change the auction, but I think the seller has a lot of food for thought and may be more careful with the label in the future.

I’m trying to gently guide this seller behind the scenes, and will suggest that there may be a more appropriate, less definite way of describing the quilt, such as “the Housetop pattern is often found among quilts made by African Americans, such as those made in Gee’s Bend. This quilt was purchased from an African American woman, but it is uncertain whether or not the maker was African American…”

Generally, I’ve had pretty decent luck advising sellers about this type of item. I try to put myself in their shoes, buffer, and explain things as if they are happening to me, using phrases like “I thought you should know” and “that’s an easy mistake to make”, etc. Usually, the sellers respond pretty well to this type of new information – and I try to do the same if I’m selling an item and receive messages about it.

We’ll see how it goes. Bill

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:12:38 -0500 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>

Hello Bill et al My apologies for not reading through the posts on the ebay thread and sounding off. I will put my head down now and get back to work-writing a quilt book of all things! Pepper

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:35:00 EST | From: Mendofleur@

I applaud Pat for her words to Julie and agree that Julie is to be commended for maintaining her integrity. Too many mushy minds out there not doing caring and honest research and documentation. EBay seems a breeding ground for greed to many sellers.

Phyllis

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 12:31:42 -0800 (PST) | From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@>

Coffee break time–love to chat with you all.So, I had a look at the Clementine Hunter quilt. She is a well known folk artist whose work in other media can be valued, I suppose, by the auction and retail prices her work has achieved. Do those prices translate to valuing a quilt she made? I have a folded triangles quilt made in the same random way, and about the same poundage. Don’t know who made mine, but the way the triangles are folded and layered is so like that pictured, I wonder……………

The question of price versus value is a long-standing controversy. Price is what a buyer agrees to pay a seller. Value is another matter. The longer I do this business, I am convinced that there is no rhyme or reason–things are worth what someone is willing to pay. You can have two identical pieces of folk art–say, a manufactured weathervane like the Rochester Index horses that just sold within two months of each other at different auctions for startlingly different but high dollar amounts–how come, when it’s the same item?

Provenance does factor in for some buyers, adding “value” and dollars to the cost of stuff,. I guess it’s presumed so-and-so had good taste/ihad knowledgeable sources, ergo the thing must have greater value than if it descended anonymously..

I just did a show where another dealer and coincidentally had the same pictorial hooked runner but done in different colors. The asking prices of mine and his was a 5-fold difference–(mine was the cheaper one, even though I am located in NYC! — that’s another pet peeve, always being referred to as the highest priced city for stuff, when folks elsewhere sometimes seem to operate on a sky’s the limit pricing policy, using designer labels and weighted words as selling aids) His rug had appeared in an old rug book, and “came from the family”. I can understand price differences, but big spans for the same thing merrit further explanation.

Laura Fisher

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 15:18:42 EST | From: DDBSTUFF@

I just posted a couple of fun pictures on the Eboards under the “Quilt” tab.

I’ve had them since last October but I’m finally getting caught up, sorta…

For Laura and all those who don’t bookmark and never remember how to get to the Eboards, here is the address:

_http://www2.eboard.com/eboard/servlet/BoardServlet?ACTION=BOARD_SHOW&SITE_NAM EÞstination&BOARD_NAME=VintagePictures&SESSION_ID=kt09mr0hun5ymey1645_ (http://www2.eboard.com/eboard/servlet/BoardServlet?ACTION=BOARD_SHOW&SITE_NAMEÞs tination&BOARD_NAME=VintagePictures&SESSION_ID=kt09mr0hun5ymey1645)

Click on the “Quilt” tab and than scroll down to the white square…

Enjoy,

Darwin

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 21:45:08 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

AAArgh! Great pictures, but you have no idea how the view disconcerts a right-hand drive outlander like me. I caught myself wondering how you were managing to drive and take the photos at the same time <G>

Sally Ward

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:25:27 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>

Oh, good pictures, Darwin! I once chased a pick-up for about 15 miles, trying to relieve them of a nice red and white Drunkard’s Path being used to protect the tailgate from a load of lumber. They were faster than my van, alas!

And a dealer I know in Florida has made friends with several young folks who run on the beach, and equipped them with inexpensive blankets still in packaging. When they come across sunbathers or picnickers using antique quilts, they are instructed to offer a swap. It often works, and she has gotten some nice quilts that way.

And one more – I once refused to sell a venerable and slightly worn Amish quilt to a customer when she told me it would be perfect for sitting on, at band concerts in some park in Atlanta, GA.

Maybe these sorts of reminiscences would make an interesting thread for a while…

Xenia

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:36:24 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

OK, here’s mine.

I saved a quilt top that had been almost ripped in half and then tied around a venerable maple tree to mark it for the tree men. The owners wouldn’t be home when they came to take it down. After 2 days of driving by I screwed up my courage, knocked, and asked if I could have it if I tied a substitute around the tree. When they said yes I fairly flew home and got some pretty awful fabric (brown to match the tree) from my stash, ripped and sewed to get the length needed and took my new prize home. That might have been 10 years ago but I still have not re-sewed the ripped seams.

Judy, now in Flemington NJ aka The Ringoes Kid judygrow@

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 14:45:52 -0800 | From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney” <mgmooney@>

Good afternoon, fellow QHLers – In looking over the quilts up for auction at Cowan’s Auction, I kept seeing the term “treadle pieced” in the descriptions. How can one tell this, inquiring minds would like to know… <g> Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC mgmooney@

—–Original Message—– >> (http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html) If anyone wants to take a look click on _http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html_ (http://www.cowanauctions.com/index.html) .

do a search of quilt and scroll down to #472 >>

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 19:05:18 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

RE > “It doesn’t matter to me what other people’s opinions are about traditional > quilts. Anyone can write a book about their opinions on art. I’ve been a > writer for years and I know. Also, my sister is an art historian and It basically comes down to anyone’s opinion.

Well, Julie, you were asking for places to visit when you were in Florida.

I suggest you skip the linen and lace dealer in W. Palm Beach and visit this dealer instead. Maybe you can chat with her sister, the art historian. And you thought California was free-wheeling, didn’t you?

I don’t believe I’ve encountered anyone over the age of three so self-assured as this gal (oh yes, it is Ms., not Mr) sounds.

Thanks for reminding us that knowledge and truth are not universally cherished. A reality check.

Gail

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:15:15 -0800 | From: “Marilyn Withrow” <marilynquilts@>

I didn’t know quilt appraisals cost $100 to $150. What have I been missing? The seller of this Hunter quilt is showing his/her ignorance in more ways than one, IMHO. Anyone want to take bets on whether Julie Silber hears from him/her again?

Marilyn Maddalena Withrow

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 20:41:32 -0500 | From: “Bonnie Dwyer” <bonniedwyer@>

Okay, I must finally share with you my Christmas story of a split quilt.

Leaving my job at the Maine State Library one morning to head off for an appointment, I noticed a work crew preparing a very large flag pole for installation on our State Capitol building. The brushed metal pole lay across two saw horses, cushioned by two halves of a DWR quilt. The perky red and green quilt was even appropriate to the season!

I did a quick u-turn and conversed briefly with the crew boss, whose wife had given him the okay to use it. He had found it in the garage and nobody knew where it came from or who had made it. At a distance of 5 feet I judged it to be about 1980’s.

I asked what plans they had for the quilt after they finished the job and he said I could have it! Okay, I don’t have it yet and that’s another story, but I did get a co-worker to take photos for me. I was late for my appointment! By the time I returned they were gone!

Is there no end to uses for these poor old quilts?

Bonnie Dwyer Quilt Appraiser 134 Pond Road Manchester, ME 04351 Home phone: (207) 622-6202 Cell: (207) 446-7311

—–Original Message—– From: Xenia Cord Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:25 PM To: Quilt History List Subject: [qhl] Re: Good Packing Blankets are hard to find???

And one more – I once refused to sell a venerable and slightly worn Amish quilt to a customer when she told me it would be perfect for sitting on, at band concerts in some park in Atlanta, GA.

Maybe these sorts of reminiscences would make an interesting thread for a while…

Xenia

Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:35:58 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

I have hoped some other appraisers and collectors would respond to the posting re the Clementine Hunter quilt.

I suppose my question is this: how much does its context affect the value of the piece? If, for instance, one a collection such as Ryan had/has, would it not acquire value from being part of that whole?

Hunter was highly publicized in the sixties through weekly articles in the Shreveport, LA, newspaper and perhaps other state papers by Francois Mignon, a guest/pensioner in Cammie Henry’s home, Melrose, in Natchitoches, LA. Mignon fancied himself an artist and connoisseur and had at some time been among the real writers and wannabe writers who came to Melrose to work. He stayed. His articles gave the paintings currency.

When Hunter was still living, she often worked on quilts during the time she was “on show” in the African House at Melrose during the annual tour of homes in Natchitoches. The quilts were ordinary. Unlike this one.

FYI: Natchitoches (nak uh tush) is an old town once located on the banks of the Red River, between Shreveport and Alexandria, LA. The river made an oxbow lake, cutting the town off from the Red River. It was the site of the film “Steel Magnolias,” written by a Natchitoches native who used the profits from the play to purchas and restor one of the historic homes of the area.

Natchitoches contains the oldest permanent dwelling in the Louisiana Purchase and is culturally notable as the site of a thriving community of free blacks who migrated there from New Orleans in the early 19th century. These were people of sophistication and taste who built substantial homes, owned slaves, and acquired wealth and property. One family, the Metoyers, built Melrose, where C. Hunter worked and lived. Their descendants have a reunion there each summer.

On the grounds is a structure that has been the subject of much architectural interest, the African House. It appears to have been constructed in a tradition originating in West Africa. Nothing like it has surfaced in North America.

Here is a Clementine Hunter story, gratis. I have a friend whose husband gave her a Hunter painting just after Hunter became the rage in Louisiana. The painting became her great pride, and in fact, she purchased a very comfortable, though ordinary, chair and ottaman in which she could sit and do needlework in clear vision to the painting. A bit painting proud, she tended to call attention the piece when new visitors called. One day both chair and painting went missing. Her friends laughingly theorized her husband had arranged for their theft with the plan of reselling the painting. Out of charity, he had had the chair snatched, we reasoned, knowing his wife would think of the painting every time she sat in it.

Everyone from friends to pest control guy commiserated with her, and it was a true mystery, much discussed. Around here, the only art thieves we have are those who are painters and have fallings-out with people who purchased their work, and we don’t call that art theft of the truest sort. More like taking back grandmother’s silver when the relative to whom you gave it proves unworthy in a very determined way.

So this theft was pondered considerably by all who knew of it. People tried in vain to come up with a theory for such a thing. We all wondered if, unbeknownst to ourselves, we were rising socially—having a real third-party theft of a piece of art.

Then the police found the thief—the pest control man. Our friend had called his attention to the painting the first call he made after its acquisition. She explained its value in some detail. Then, the next time he called, she pointed out the chair. Even had him sit in it so he could appreciate its comfort and its fine view of THE PAINTING. Over coffee (yes, we serve coffee to our exterminators and plumbers and such), they talked about the thefts of silver which had occurred in town. She proudly told him of her own clever hiding place and told him all about the trip she and her husband planned the next week.

That was when he came back and got painting, chair, and silver. When she returned and he made his monthly service call, she explained her loss. He grieved with her, again over coffee, and asked what this world was coming to.

Some time later, local police, who had just done themselves proud by rescuing a goat while pursuing a bank thief (the thief got away, has never been found), were told the pest control guy had some stolen bicycles at his apartment. They got a warrant to search the place and found the bikes. And everyone’s lost silver. And the infamous Clementine Hunter, chair, and ottaman. And her silver.

Our friend was deeply hurt by the agent’s perfidy and, in fact, called upon him in jail and explained how hurt she was in rather vivid terms. Then left him with a New Testament and a batch of lemon loves.

The rest of us were left to think about just how much our pest control men knew about our houses. Some even changed the hiding places of their house keys or keypad codes.

From the land of dreamy dreams, Gail Ingram

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:11:48 -0800 (PST) | From: karenquilt@

While attending a Manhattan Transfer outdoor concert at Audubon Zoo Park while living in New Orleans in the mid 80s, I spotted several quilts that people were preparing to take into the park for picnicking. I spoke to only one of the owners — two well-dressed, late 30s guys with a gorgeous Crazy Quilt thrown over the arm of one. I asked if I might see it. They obligingly showed me. It was dated 1897 and in Very Good though not Excellent over-all condition. I finally said, “Are you really going to put that on the ground and sit on it? It is quite a lovely piece and you can’t wash it if you get food on it. It may be quite valuable.” They got huffy and defensive so I crept back to my place in line and said no more. (By the way MT made their stage entrance atop elephants. No quilts though.) Another time I found another late 1800s well-pieced quilt in dark colors thrown over the hood of an old beat-up car in a narrow street in the French Quarter. The owner had arranged his junk-sale on top of it. (He obviously had some taste. He chose a quilt as his backdrop, right?) I asked where the quilt came from and what he wanted for it. “You want that old dirty thing, he asked in surprise? Yep. “Well, it’s from Mississippi. Is $25 too much?” Sold. A few years later when I had learned more about quilts I realized the back was all cheater cloth. But I didn’t dare wash the thing and had to keep it separate from my other quilts, like several other pieces that eventually followed me home. I offered the “Alley Quilt” and several other truly sad looking quilts and tops to quilt friends before I left Virginia two years ago. No takers. (Told you they were a sorry lookin’ bunch.) So I bagged them up and gave them to Goodwill, wishing I could be a fly on the wall when some crazy person like myself eventually came across them in a Goodwill shop some day and went nuts over her “find”. Karen Alexander in the sunny San Juans where we may have our first snow in about 48 hours.

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:33:13 -1000 | From: Loretta Woodard <Lwoodard@>

I’m surprised the dealer didn’t point to Shelly Zegart as her authority since she has a link to Shelly’s web site offering Gee’s Bend quilts of similar style for sale.

“Look to http://www.shellyquilts.com/geesbend/index.html, Gee’s Bend quilt collection from Shelly Zeigart to find another quilt (sold) of this type”

(Well, she left out the http:// part but the link won’t work from within this email if I don’t include it).

Laurie Woodard

Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:06:19 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

I just remembered one of the quilts in the collection of the QGBI. Against all conservatorial practice it had to be boiled after discovery, because it had been found wrapped around a cow in a byre somewhere in the North of England.

Fortunately it was turkey red appliqued on a very strong white cotton or linen and after boiling the condition was no worse than it had been (already pretty poor). It was just a lot nicer to be near <G>

Sally W

Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 09:20:04 -0500 | From: “Lorraine Forster” <circusvue@>

Why not do a log cabin?

In Pittsburgh, Pa – a strange winter where the sun keep shining while snowflakes are falling.

LO CIRCUSVUE

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 16:48:05 -0500 | From: “gb-best” <vitale@>

I thought this quilt interesting. Did anyone see it?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3D6252193281&rd=3D1&sspagename=3DSTRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=3D1