January 5 – 9, 2003
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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:
- Dating and Authenticating an eBay Quilt — A multi-message thread debates whether a quilt listed for sale on eBay is a genuine antique with fraktur-style motifs and possible woodblock printing, or a later piece, drawing comparisons to quilts in museum collections. (see the article on dating quilts)
- Quilt Engagement Calendar Collecting — Several members trade requests and leads on tracking down out-of-print Penguin quilt engagement calendars from the 1980s and 90s.
- Finding a Home for a Personal Photo Collection — A member with about 100 color photographs of quilts looks for a museum or archive willing to take them as a permanent repository.
- Quilt Marking Methods and Documentation Projects — Discussion of historical quilt-marking techniques, alongside updates on a New Hampshire quilt documentation project and a Mississippi state quilt survey book. (see the article on state quilt documentation books)
- Community News and Resources — Notes on an upcoming quilt show and competition, a North Carolina guild announcement, and a mention of the Costume Society of America’s newsletter.
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 11:01:39 -0500 | From: “anne”
Xenia, is there any information on buyer of this amazing quilt? Private collector or -hoping- a musem? AnneD
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 11:29:55 EST | From: Midnitelaptop
QuiltersBeecuenet.com, quiltopialyris.planetpatchwork.com, i plan on making a small adjustment to the december 24 – jan 2 calendar for 2003.. all of the days for those dates.. are going to be saturdays &sundays alternated… just ’cause that’s the way i feel for those 2 weeks every year… when anyone asks me what day it is during that time…a glazed look comes into my eyes…and i have to tap the back of my head…to unscramble the day log…it takes a minute or 2,to respond and then i usually get the day wrong anyhow… anyone else want to sign my petition? i’m pretty sure tomorrow is really monday… jeanL
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 21:33:49 EST | From: Windquilt
Trish wrote:
>>I have been given about 100 color photos …I would like them to go to the proper place where they will mean something.
Hi Trish, I cannot say that I know anything about the show you mention, but if all else fails, please consider the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, as a repository for the pictures. I can send you contact information if you are interested.
Nancy Nancy Blake south of Boston
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 13:16:00 -0500 | From: “pepper cory”
Hello all from the sunny but windy Carolina coast-I’m straightening the office and came across the shelf with Quilt Engagement Calendars. I think Penguin stopped this series in 2001 so I’d love to fill two holes: I need the 1987 and the 1999 issues. I have an extra of the 1981 calendar. Anyone out there got an extra ’87 or ’99 and interested in swapping or selling? Please contact me off-list. Happy New Year. Pepper Cory — [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Cape Lookout Mail Server]
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 13:43:06 -0500 | From: “Neal and Julie Crossland”
There was such a great response to the antique quilting bee photo that I have put all of the ones that I have left on ebay. We are having one last run done (50) and may put some of those up. The ebay number is 935929833. Previous post: The NH Quilt Documentation Project, Phase II gets underway with a series of Documentation Days beginning in January, 2003. To raise money, Glendora Hutson who is on our board of directors, has given permission for the limited reproduction of a wonderful photograph in her collection. We are making it available through eBAy. “Antique Reproduction Photo of Quilting Bee”. All proceeds go to the project.
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 10:38:17 -0800 | From: “Laurette Carroll”
<rl.carrollverizon.net> Hello A while back we were discussing methods of marking quilting lines used on antique quilts. I mentioned that I have seen quilting lines marked with blue pencil on antique quilts, but that I thought that the quilt we were discussing had been marked with blue chalk/powder.
Last night I was looking through a book, “Pieced Work and Appliqu� Quilts at Shelburne Museum“, Lilian Carlisle, Shelburne Museum, 1957, (no ISBN). On pg. 55 there is a photo of a quilt named Foundation Rose and Pine Tree, dated third quarter 19th C, and in the description is written, “Quilting is in simple lines that cross at regular intervals which form squares. This quilt has never been washed and the quilting lines, drawn on with blue green pencil marks are still visible”.
This is a great little book, there are many photos (b&w) of wonderful quilts, and the author describes them in detail and gives a little quilt history along the way.
Laurette Carroll Southern California Look to the Future With Hope
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 17:33:25 -0500 | From: “Cinda Cawley”
Can I piggyback on Pepper’s idea and ask if anybody has a copy of the very first calendar which I think was 1976? That’s the one I need for a complete set. Thanks. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 22:10:46 -0500 | From: Eileen Doughty
For those looking for the engagement calendars – There is a rummage sale kind of list set up for quilters. they post once a month. it is not run commercially, the woman just does it out of the goodness of her heart. you could place an ad there.
you have to join it via yahoo now, because their server booted them off — going out to too many people so it looked like spam.
here is what they say:
*** If you’d like to recommend QTN to a friend, the quickest way for them to join is to send an email to QTN-subscribeyahoogroups.com .
Previous QTN newsletters from October, 2002 onward are available at the QTN website, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QTN . You’ll have to create a Yahoo! username for yourself if you have not done so already.
If you have any problems or questions with your subscription or the website, feel free to email me directly at nakroshissmart.net . * eileen doughty http://www.DoughtyDesigns.com
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 04:24:07 +0000 | From: “Karen Bush”
Hi All! And, Happy New year! 🙂 I hope this is ‘legal’ to ask on the list, but, this quilt just STRUCK me, and wondered if anyone else had ever seen this design. It might be a self-designed, just thought I’d ask the Experts! 🙂 kb http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=934749145+ Click on the thumbnail of the picture to see it close up.
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 23:27:59 -0500 | From: “Jan Drechsler”
Trish, Woodstock, VT is an hour away and I have visited 6-7 times in the last few years. Last year, I sang in a group for a free performance for the historical society. I would be willing to call the society and if no success, try the local churches and see if they have any records of a quilt show. I wonder if any of these quilts have been documented?
The other possibility is the Vermont Quilt Documentation Project, although I don’t know if there is a public storage/library access for this type of material.
Although I live in Vermont, I am a volunteer for the Massachusetts Quilt Doc. Project which is afilliated with the New England Quilt Museum. Guess I have a few of the bases covered and am happy to help out. As long as it can be put on the list of Quilt business and doesn’t need to be done tomorrow!
Regards, Jan — Jan Drechsler in Vermont Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher www.sover.net/~bobmills
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 09:20:11 -0500 | From: Palampore
(Quilt Heritage List) I just got my Costume Society of America’s on-line newsletter. They mentioned a site that I thought you would be interested in. The site is: printersproofs.com. It tells about printers proofs that were used by the Werthan Bag Co. of Nashville, TN. Those of you who like feedbag fabric will love this site. There was also mention of a great quilt exhibit at the Whitney Museum. The national conference for the Costume Soc. will be in Charleston, SC in June. Great group of folks who often cross over interests with quilt folks. Several of us on this list are part of the group. Have a great New Year! Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 11:46:28 -0500 (EST) | From: Teri Klassen
I got the Mississippi state quilts book for Christmas and it is really nicely done. It has a good representation of quilts made by African-Americans, and also a lovely quilt reportedly made in Kokomo, Indiana. Teri Klassen (looking forward to our next Indiana/Illinois/Ohio quilt history meeting a week from Sunday)
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 14:26:37 -0600 (Central Standard Time) | From: Mary
Persyn Click here to read an article on Gee’s Bend and the quilts in the Chicago Tribune today in the Tempo section. It can also be found at The title of the article is “home of Genius”.
Mary in overcast Valparaiso,IN
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 22:01:38 -0800 | From: Anne Copeland
<anneappraiser1juno.com> Quilt I seriously doubt that this is a 1930s quilt. I looked at the fabrics, and they don’t look right for 30s. Something else about it just doesn’t look right either. peace and blessings, Annie Closest to Fancy Dresden, but with all the extra design elements added in makes it strange.
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 19:49:54 -0800 | From: “Julie Silber”
The Dresden Plate quilt Anne refers to is my listing on eBay: = tqc…Really GREAT 30s Dresden Plate QUILT! =20 934749145 =20 Not certain of what Anne meant, I went to look again at the quilt. Using = the fabrics as a guide, I believe that the quilt IS circa 1930s. There = may be some 40s prints, which would bring it into the 40s, but I see = nothing that looks newer. Anne, tell us what era you think it is, and = why, will you, so we can all learn something.
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 00:09:58 -0500 | From: “judygrow”
I’m not shy. I think this quilt is everything that Julie says it is. I think it the kind of quilt that we all hope to be able to produce ourselves — a typical traditional pattern taken to heights of imagination and craftsmanship.
……”all the extra design elements added in makes it strange.” You betcha! It’s strange to see such a simple quilt that was put together with such incredible imagination.
It is a knock-your-socks-off quilt in my estimation.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrowrcn.com
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 21:09:34 -0500 | From: “judygrow”
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category2221&item936167363 This quilt we found recently, about a month ago, it came from a house in Northhampton County Pennsylvania. It’s a RARE quilt and I haven’t ever seen a quilt made like this before. On first inspection, it reminded me of the old Fraktur art with the birds. The entire design is done with ink. At first I thought all hand drawn, but on closer look you will notice repeats of the designs so I think it was made using a stencil. I am told that this type of work is RARE to find on a quilt. I think the maker first made a stencil and traced the entire design. Later, they went over the design using probably a quill with ink. When examining the quilt, you will notice the start and stop marks made by the quill. Other areas of the birds are colored in with red paint, similar to Fraktur style drawings.
The center of the quilt is designed as a medallion and surrounded by wheels with birds. The edges have a dogtooth border of early 19th century calico on 3 sides. The back has a coarse weave, which I think could be homespun cotton. There is interesting hand quilting with hand prints and other motifs. I tried to find a date, since the quilting was unique, but didn’t find one. Sometimes dates are hidden in the quilting. The birds and coloring are very similar to Fraktur drawing that is popular and highly collected in this area.
I had the quilt looked at many of my colleagues in the quilt business and we all agree that this is a one of a kind quilt. I have heard about Fraktur made quilts, but most of the time they consist of the Fraktur lettering. I haven’t ever seen any with birds. I feel this quilt is EXTREMELY RARE and a true work of art that should be in a Museum. I have been asked to have the quilt photographed as a calendar quilt, I will give this information to the winner of the auction and also any provenance and personal information I have about the quilt. I do know where it was found and family name. This is a serious investment and if you need to know more about the quilt you’re welcome to call us direct at (570) 620-1111. I am happy to answer all your questions and satisfaction is guaranteed on this sale.
Make it a RARE addition to your Museum……Curators are welcome to call.
MEASUREMENTS are 72 x 84 inches. There is hand quilting with 7-8 stitches per inch with interesting hand and motif quilting patterns. All hand-pieced and has thin batting.
CONDITION: No holes or tears. I don’t think it was ever used or laundered. There is age spotting and yellowing throughout the quilt. More heavier on back. This quilt can be professionally cleaned, but I think it should be left as found. The ageing adds to the charm of the quilt. It all depends on your personal preference.
FABRICS: All cotton with cotton batting.
VINTAGE: Circa 1830-40s. Some of my quilt colleagues thought the quilt to be older, but I felt it was made about this time period.
Here’s a quilt that Donna Vitale (gb-best) has up for sale. She calls it stencilled and found in Pa.
At first sight I think that perhaps it is a woodblock, with the red put on by had, and made in India. What do you experts think?
Of course unless we can eyeball the quilt face to face it is impossible to say for sure, but I’d be interested to hear what you think.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 09:33:48 -0500 | From: “Candace Perry”
This quilt is fascinating but I think the seller need not jump on the fraktur bandwagon…whenever people see birds in a PA German area it’s all about fraktur! That is not a fraktur influenced design at all, and is not folky, IMHO. It is a more formal design that looks sort of mass produced to me (stamped, not stenciled?). The design isn’t even reminiscent of printed fraktur designs, if that what the seller had in mind. It’s a weird thing isn’t it?
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 12:30:44 EST | From: Cml791@
This quilt is similar to 2 quilts in the New York State Historical Asso. in Cooperstown. The one most similar is used as the backing of an early pinwheel quilt c. 1800. We saw these on the trip we took during one of QHL’s seminars. They are pictured in the association’s ‘Heritage’ booklet, summer 1996.
They don’t have the birds but are medallion style with urns and floral designs in black outline with some red. There are printed borders but can’t see it too clearly.
Carolyn Miller, sunny Texas
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 13:54:45 -0500 | From: “gb-best”
Email sent to me about the quilt….
“Two – re: the possibility of it being a woodblock printed spread from India – I’ve done some research since last evening and ALL the printed spreads from India in the 17th and 18th centuries that I have found referenced, along with those which have photos, have multiple colors (not just the hand applied red on the birds) and are far more elaborate than yours. They are said to be printed on cotton, but do not specify linen, which as you know was used quite extensively in England and the colonies until less expensive woven cotton became more widely available and affordable.
Could this be a wood block printed fabric with the color added, made here in America as a copy of a more expensive spread seen in someone else’s home? YES.
Also, the Indian birds are more exotic and tropical looking, not as simple as the red-winged “blackbird”? which was so common and a favorite bird to be depicted in pottery and other artwork from England and the colonies.
Oh! The Philadelphia fabric maker who printed the marvelous fabrics which were often cut up for chintz work, who Ben Franklin persuaded to come over from England , was John Hewson. Some of his work can be seen America’s Quilts and Coverlets by Safford and Bishop.
Is this from India – I personally don’t think so. Will keep on checking out further resources ……..”
Regards,
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:29:24 -0500 | From: Palampore@
(Quilt Heritage List) charsetiso-8859-1 I saw the quilt. It does look like it might be block printed, but from my experience from doing palampore research it didn’t “say” India to me at all. I might be totally off kilter, but that is my gut opinion. But it was a most interesting quilt. I have never seen anything like it. Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 23:34:08 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris
I am forwarding this on behalf of Pat Crews (pcrews@) Folks, Register soon for the upcoming Wild by Design Symposium at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Early bird registration ends on January 15; after that date registration fees increase. The complete program is listed below and detailed registration information is available on our website http://quiltstudy.unl.edu.
I look forward to seeing you at the symposium. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity for dialogue.
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 08:26:21 -0500 | From: Jane Hall
Hello from North Carolina….I realized that maybe some of you don’t know about the NCQuilt Symposium which will be held in Raleigh, May 29-June1 2003, at Peace College. This is a national/regional conference with probably 500 students, 20 teachers, Quilt Show and Vendors. Brochures are being mailed out this next week, and will be on our website in about two weeks. Nccapitalquiltersguild.org/NCQS03/default.htm Y’all come! Jane Hall
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 09:08:36 -0500 | From: Joan Kiplinger
Will anyone from this list be attending the annual quilt and nationial competition show at Lake Farmpark, Kirtland OH [Cleveland area] between Feb.14 – Mar.26? I would enjoy meeting you. Ami Simms of Flint MI and Ellen Anne Eddy of Chesterton IN will be featured artists. If they are on this list, would also enjoy meeting you. If they are not members, can anyone tell me their specialties.
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 09:15:53 -0600 | From: “Dale/Jean Carlton”
<djcarlton@> Hi all, I posted some time ago with a question about the ‘prosperity quilt’ – the one with various figures peeking around the corner based on HH quote , “prosperity is just around the corner” with the farmer block in the middle. I finally saw the set of blocks today in person, partially completed and a folder of paper patterns of all the figures – the maker was using as identical fabrics to the original as possible. This packet of ‘old stuff’ was handed down to a client. Does anyone know if a pattern of that quilt was ever published anywhere? Otherwise, the maker must have had some access to tracing the designs from the quilt. Just curious. Anyone else seen this quilt done other than the original? Jean Carlton MN quilt appraiser
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 12:22:43 -0500 | From: “gb-best”
Hi Candice, I wrote the quilt reminded me of the old Fraktur drawings that are popular in PA not that it was a Fraktur quilt or definitely Fraktur work. It just looked similar to me because I see so much Fraktur work.
I have updated the listing to read possibly a block made printed quilt. I wasn’t sure what type of quilt this was since I haven’t ever seen a quilt made this way. I knew it was quite rare.
I believe it was made using a block and printed with ink. I also think it was later traced over and the red added to the birds. There are many start and stops on the ink lines and it looks like it was traced over.
One person suggested India block import, but the birds in those type of quilts are more exotic and also the designs are more intricate.
The quilt was found at a Pennsylvania estate. The family name was Gum, in Wind Gap.
Any information that can be offered is greatly appreciated.
Donna Marie
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 14:47:45 -0500 | From: “Cinda Cawley”
As Carolyn mentioned, the two textiles similar to the ebay auction are pictured in the New York State Historical Association’s magazine, Heritage, summer 1996 issue. Both are identified as block printed linen. One is the back of a pinwheel quilt dated ca. 1774-1810, marked SB, found in York, PA, purchased from Florence Peto in 1849. The other, called a table cover, is described as ca. 1800, attributed to Dan Pratt (1787-1813), Prattsburgh, NY, “this decorated fabric is nearly identical to the backing of the pinwheel quilt…and was undoubtedly produced by the same hand.” The NY Hist. Assoc. is in Cooperstown, NY. The phone # is (607) 547-1400. Donna might want to check it out. Cinda on the warm and sunny Eastern Shore
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 19:46:57 -0500 | From: Lesters
Quilting related?? Of course! A friend’s daughter is doing a science project in determining blood dissolving properties of saliva and who has the enzymes and who doesn’t. In Bees, we have always known that this is our most handy way of dissolving blood stains but I don’t know the scientific explanations. Is there some really scientific person, on the list, that can help? Name of enzyme? How does it work? What percentage of people produce it?
Thanks for any help!
Jean
