November 18 – 19, 2004
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:
- Farrier vs. Blacksmith Terminology — A long, good-humored thread on the historical distinction between farriers, blacksmiths, and smithies, including etymology and regional usage. (see the article on cotton and textile terms)
- Horse-Themed Quilts — Members recall and describe quilts made to commemorate horses and horse racing, including the Chester Dare hair quilt and Charlotte Warr Andersen’s work.
- Buying Antique Quilts Wisely — Experienced dealers and collectors share advice for newcomers on evaluating and purchasing antique quilts.
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:22:46 -0500 | From: Vivien Sayre <vsayre@>
Ha, talk about a Freudian slip. You can tell I hadn’t had lunch yet. That should have been veterinarians not vegetarians, but I liked the images it conjured up anyhow. Thanks for the ‘heads-up’ Judy. Vivien
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:53:55 -0500 | From: “sue reich” <suereich@>
My neighbor is a farrier. He is in his late forties and has a very lucrative business in this area. Horses need to be shod on a regular basis. My husband’s grandfather was a farrier in Pittsburgh and in Crawford County, PA. sue reich ——=_NextPart_000_0016_01C4CD97.9238FAA0–
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:35:13 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>
Oh Sharon, all my life, I’ve hummed “farriers,” thinking they were all-purpose smithies. I stand grateful and corrected, ‘lest I should hire a tarrier to shoe a horse.
But, ahem, I’m sure you heard the song on an oldies station, too. Right?
Gail
Er, Gail,
That’s “Drill, ye tarriers, drill!” Tarriers are the railroad guys, farriers care for horses’ feet, at mentioned above….
Sharon Stark
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 15:44:37 -0800 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@>
Well, horses are vegetarians.
Christine Thresh
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 18:58:26 -0600 | From: “cjsp70” <cjsp70@>
As I have mentioned before my husband is a blacksmith and there is a distinct difference between blacksmithing and being a farrier. In the past the town blacksmith may have been a farrier also in order to support his family. He may have also done carpentry or anything he could to make money. Most blacksmiths can make horseshoes plus tools, decorative iron, hinges, nails,etc. There is specialized knowledge needed to take care of the horses feet and how to shape and reshape shoes to treat the horse’s foot problems. C.J. can give a long detailed list of the differences. Hope this helps. Pat Sauer —– Original Message —– From: “Candace Perry” <candace@> To: “Quilt History List” <qhl@> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 1:00 PM Subject: [qhl] RE: Studio Quilt Study Group (long, of course)
> Though I’m not all that horsey, I spent several years at the Kentucky Derby > Museum, and it was my impression that the term farrier has been used here to > denote someone who particularly shoes horses and cares for their feet and > other horse related problems, rather than someone who is involved more > generally in black smithing — which could include making household items, > tools, etc. Now, I’m not sure if the term is used on this side of the pond > in the 20th century onward –but I’m fairly certain I’ve seen 19th century > American farrier’s manuals. > Candace Perry > > > > > > — > You are currently subscribed to qhl as: cjsp70@. > To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-qhl-1577765K@
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:24:10 -0500 | From: “Lynne Z. Bassett” <lzbassett@>
> Oh Sharon, all my life, I’ve hummed “farriers,” thinking they were > all-purpose smithies.
A “smithie” is actually the building in which a blacksmith works–NOT the person!
Best, Lynne
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:15:19 +1000 | From: “quiltstuff” <quiltstuff@>
OK, I know this is not quilty at all but can’t resist mentioning that in the Aussie Army , I am known as a fang farrier.. in other words a dentist. It is also my yahoo ID.. VBG
Suzy Atkins
From: Gail Ingram
> >> Oh Sharon, all my life, I’ve hummed “farriers,” thinking they were >> all-purpose smithies. > > A “smithie” is actually the building in which a blacksmith works–NOT the > person! > > Best, > Lynne >
Okay. All right. I’m going back to “Ethan Brand” (Hawthorne’s lime burner) and beneath “the spreading chestnut…” and places where I am not so likely to make 25 errors in a single sentence, where I am more at home.
I count myself among the newly informed. I even remember (though I’m afraid to add) that my husband’s first furniture-making tool was named a “shopsmith,” which affirms Mizriz Bassett’s addition (above). It was sort of an all-in-one shop.
My sister and I grew up with horses, and we just called the man who came to take care of his hooves (is that what they’re called?) the “horse shoe man.” (It was a long time ago, and we lived in a red state, so the mistake is understandable) Yet, now I know a real farrier, though obviously I did not understand or appreciate his specialty.
All this horse talk has led me to a different topic: are there quilts made to celebrate the feats of horses? A Bucephalus quilt perchance? Triple Crown winner? Did Secretariat inspire any quilts? Peraps quilts made only from ribbons won by such horses?
If so, understand it. If not, why?
Lost, Gail
From: Pat Kyser <patkyser@>
>ll this horse talk has led me to a different topic: are there quilts made >to celebrate the feats of horses? A Bucephalus quilt perchance? Triple Crown >winner? Did Secretariat inspire any quilts? Peraps quilts made only from >ribbons won by such horses?
There is the fabulous “Bird of Paradise” applique album quilt top in the American Museum of Folk Art. It has four famous racehorses from the mid 19th century with their names appliqued on them – Eclipse, Flying Cloud, Ivory Black, and Black Hawk – and more horses without names. That is the top which was saved with the templates and a photo of the maker – the top has a woman on one block, and the templates have a matching man which was never completed, leading to speculation that this was made in preparation for a marriage that never happened. It is published in several books, including “Glorious American Quilts” (which shows the Museum of American Folk Art’s collection). I can’t find a photo on the internet but could post a scan if anyone would like to see it.
Speaking of this quilt, I am the lucky owner of a entire set of full-size patterns for this quilt, including the four borders (each of which is different!) – they are done on blueprint type paper. I was lucky to find these about a year ago on eBay – the seller was selling a couple of blocks made from it. In the description it was noted that the seller was also “including the pattern,” which was not shown. I recognized the blocks as being from this quilt, and decided to go for it! I was excited when I opened the package . . . what a treasure! The pattern set was copyrighted in 1975 by Deanna Mayer, NY. Is anyone familiar with this pattern set? I wonder how it came to be. (The Museum did not acquire the quilt until 1979.) –=====================_4156406==.ALT–
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:52:54 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
For the record, I have had two horse ribbon quilt tops, one with ribbons from various events a riding club participated in, and one of primarily 4-H ribbons. Both were assembled in a sort of crazy quilt style, by machine, the finished edges of the ribbons making the assembly less difficult. The main problem was in the quality of the ribbons – they were stiff to begin with, and turned brittle over time and with the decorative gold printing on them – were they perhaps rayon?
And that reminds me of another tradition – that of gathering the ribbons from funeral flowers and making a pillowtop or perhaps a larger top from them. Anyone know of this?
Xenia
(The horse ribbons, BTW, were from southeastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio.)
From: “Karen Evans”
Well, there’s the Chester Dare quilt from Kentucky, where the maker took hair from the horse’s mane to be sure of getting a perfect match when she bought the velvet for her applique…
Karen Evans
From: “Candace Perry”
Oh, I loved Secretariat…so wonderful to start the day thinking about him. Proof, surely, that God exists and he loves us, to bless us even for a short time, with such a magnificent animal. I get positively sappy over great racehorses. I know I saw quilts in KY inspired by the Derby, but I don’t think they’re in public collections… Candace Perry
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:49:13 -0800 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Good Morning All,
Xenia asked about quilts made from funeral ribbons.
Some years ago, one was brought to my apraisal table. The man who brought it was a gravedigger. He saved the ribbons left over from the flowers and brought them home to his mother who used them in quilts.
The one he brought me was sort of a “hit or miss” Rail Fence kind of a thing if I recall correctly. The ribbons were very bright, possibly synthetic – it was not very old – dating from the 50s – 60s I thought at the time.
It was interesting but not particularly valuable.
Regards, Julia Zgliniec
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:59:36 -0500 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Who was it that made those wonderful quilts commemorating horse races a
few years ago? The one I remember best showed the horses running right at you–I saw it at the PA Extravaganza. Cinda on the Eastern Shore where we have lots of horses but way more chickens
********
Yes, isn’t her first name “Shirley” and she created the quilt with paper piecing? I can’t think of her last name…… The quilt was also shown at the Troy, NY show along with her other magnificent paper pieced animal quilts which look so realistic!
Pat
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:13:00 -0600 (CST) | From: SadieRose@
I believe Charlotte Warr Andersen made several quilts with horse themes. I took a class from her (quite a while back) and remember her talking about the top horse races and gathering photos and info about the famous race tracks & horses. Here is her website: http://www.charlottewarrandersen.com/gallery.html but it didn’t show the quilt I remember. She has 2 books out, possibly the quilt(s) are shown in her books?? Happy Stitching!! Karan
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 10:16:03 EST | From: Hazelmacc@
At my second Continental Quilting Congress in Arlington, VA, a lady from New York had a booth and was selling this pattern. It was no doubt Deanna Mayer but that was so long ago I couldn’t remember her name. She was disappointed in her sales – she thought every quilter attending would want her pattern; however, it was quite pricey at that time.
Hazel Carter
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 10:24:40 EST | From: Hazelmacc@
Back in the probably the 80s, a friend received a funeral quilt from their friend who had buried a member of his family in one of the Carolinas. The first recipient of the quilt was quite shocked upon receiving the quilt along with a bill for around $12. The note stated that they had gone to the grave site of the deceased and had made the quilt from her floral arrangements.
It was of satiny type ribbons, bright primary colors and yes, in the rail fence design. The quilt was not large and was only tied to a backing, no batting.
Hazel Carter in No. VA.
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:20:31 -0600 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
There are 2 quilt blocks named Black Beauty: probably named after the lovely story of a horse that we read as kids! Blocks were done in the 1930s, but one is a version of Blackford’s Beauty which was in an early Ladies Art Catalog. It also had the name “The Hunt” so it had to be based on horses. There is also a Fox Chase block! There is a Winner’s Circle block. We once had a horse named Snowball and that is a quilt block.But, you are right! Surely someone has made a quilt to celebrate a Horse Race.
A fiction book about the first shoeing of King Arthur’s horses by Anne McCaffrey is called “Black Horses for the King”. I always thought I’d apply Black Beauty block to that book as well. Once Upon a Time, I did design a quilt in which each block represented a book that we could read. I was offering it to my local library as a gift that they could raffle for funds to build a new library, but the idea got turned down. So it’s just pages of designs! Not a real quilt. It is not even a UFO, (Un Finished Object) or WIP (Work In Progress), so I guess it is a NESP or Never Even Started Project. I have scads of files for these Dream Quilts.
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:32:33 -0800 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>
Ok, I know it’s not quilt related, but it is history and culture.
Thanks to Gail I couldn’t get that teeny refrain out of my mind. But I couldn’t remember the rest. And I also wondered why there was a song about railroad drilling. And what IS railroad drilling. So, for those who are as curious as I, here are the words to the song and a link to a site where you can here the music. (And for those who are even more curious: the word “tay” (tea) is used because tarriers were often Irish. It was the poorest most desparate of the workers who did the back-breaking work drilling rock etc to build the American railroads. Another interesting site reviewed several old railroad songs through American history and briefly explained the contest of each.) (I will never cease to be amazed at what the Internet brings us.)
Laura in Seattle. Can’t get that pulsating melody out of my head.
http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/usa/drillye.htm (Click on Melody to hear it.)
Every morning about seven o’clock There were twenty tarriers drilling at the rock The boss comes along and he says, “Keep still And bear down heavy on the cast iron drill.” Chorus: And drill, ye tarriers, drill Drill, ye tarriers, drill For it’s work all day for the sugar in you tay Down beyond the railway And drill, ye tarriers, drill And blast, and fire.
2. The boss was a fine man down to the ground And he married a lady six feet ’round She baked good bread and she baked it well But she baked it harder than the hobs of Hell. Chorus:
3. The foreman’s name was John McCann By God, he was a blamed mean man Last week a premature blast went off And a mile in the air went big Jim Goff. Chorus:
4. And when next payday came around Jim Goff a dollar short was found When he asked, “What for?” came this reply “You were docked for the time you were up in the sky.” Chorus:
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:01:33 -0800 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@>
I don’t see how a smithy can be a shop.
The Longfellow poem says:
Under a spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. ……………………………………………………..
So it seems to me the smithy is a man.
Christine Thresh http://www.@
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:13:13 -0800 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Hi again, Perhaps in Longfellow’s poem, the” smithy”is the blacksmith’s shop or building and the “smith” is the man.
Example – the grocery and the grocer.
Just specualation, Julia
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:30:13 -0500 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>
A definition for smithy: [n] a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering also known as a forge… Candace perry
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:17:36 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
Montana State university has classes for one to become a farrier:
http://animalrange.montana.edu/horseshoe.htm
From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
“Three for the Crown” by Charlotte Warr Andersen is in the collection of the Museum of the American Quilter’s Society.
SadieRose@ wrote:I believe Charlotte Warr Andersen made several quilts with horse themes. I took a class from her (quite a while back) and remember her talking about the top horse races and gathering photos and info about the famous race tracks & horses. Here is her website: http://www.charlottewarrandersen.com/gallery.html but it didn’t show the quilt I remember. She has 2 books out, possibly the quilt(s) are shown in her books?? Happy Stitching!! Karan
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:40:34 -0800 | From: “Christine Thresh” <christine@>
I bet you are right. I’ve had it wrong all these years.
Christine Thresh
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 17:30:01 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
> Thanks to Gail I couldn’t get that teeny refrain out of my mind. But I > couldn’t remember the rest. And I also wondered why there was a song > about railroad drilling. And what IS railroad drilling.
I know this song from my English childhood too, but to us it was drill ye ‘terriers’ drill. (And blast. And fire. <G>) I also found a site with a very old recording, and it seemed to me that it sounded like ‘tarriers’ because they were singing in an Irish accent.
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/2/32/h32-2130-e.html#drill.ram
I always thought they were called ‘terriers’ because of their likeness to terrier dogs that were used for digging out prey for the huntsmen.
Sally W
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 14:21:35 -0500 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Quilts from Michigan State University Museum, Beth Donaldson mentioned this book on QHL some time ago. I got my copy yesterday. Trust me: you want one too! It’s the catalogue of an exhibit in Japan in 2003 with text in English and Japanese and the fabulous photography so often found in Japanese publications. There are detail as well as overall shots of many of the quilts and in some of the pictures you could almost count the stitches. Below is the web address for ordering (it’s the last item on the page). It’s $25.00 plus $3.00 s/h.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore
From: “Candace Perry”
Today I received a wonderful, quirky “quilt” for the collection — I use quotes because it isn’t completely quilted — that consists of a cheater crazy patterned cotton , in pinks and browns, a very thin batting, then backed with a large scale pink floral on a brown background. It is positively charming. I’m thinking 1890-1910. Candace Perry Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Pennsburg PA
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 15:24:57 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>
Thanks to QHL members, I know what a tarrier is, know the words to the old Frankie Laine song with the refrain “drill, ye tarriers, drill,” know much more than I knew about quilts about horses. And I have the wonderful image of a terrier drilling, an image dear to my heart since I am owned by a terrier. The image of a bunch of terriers drilling has brightened my whole day.
For those who swoon over Secretariat and friends, I would remind you that if you come to Nashville next September 16th to the Southern Quilt Conference, you can visit the Belmont mansion, which was home to some mighty fine horse flesh and to horses whose blood ran in and beefed up some triple crown winners.
But now, to quote the poet, “to fresh fields and pastures new.”
I have been asked to do an evaluative survey of good and bad places where quilt collectors may find and purchase quilts (and, I suppose, quilt tops). I think we are talking primarily mid- to lower-market, rather than the $15,000 range, though I would like to hear your stories in any range.
What advice would you give someone who is in the early stages of collecting quilts about places where she/he might find good buys, good quilts? Any personal experiences to support your recommendations?
And what about the potholes in the collecting road? Ever buy something that looked terrific on eBay and then failed to recognize it when it arrived at your door? How to avoid and/or handle such big regrets?
Any tips about the big regional sales like the one at Roundtop, TX? Flea markets? Ebay?
Thinking about this, I am reminded of a spat of stories on this list two or three years ago when J. G. Row told of rescuing a quilt that was tied around a tree to mark it for the woodcutter.
Any good stories about quilt buying adventures?
Anyone who sends a story will receive a copy of the Chatham (GA) Artillery Punch, a beverage that will make you not care whether the turkey is overdone or the dressing has traces of salmonella in it.
Already enlightened but still seeking more enlightenment, Gail
From: Jackie Joy <joysbees@>
My only antique quilt was bought at the only estate auction I ever attended. It was early 1960’s in Illinois, and was a farm sale. The quilt was Goose in the Pond, double pink and white. Nicely made and quilted, but with the binding going. It cost $4. I’ve kept it since then, through several moves. I started quilting myself in the late 70’s, different place, different husband.
I’ve never bought a quilt on E-bay, but have made many purchases, including antique textiles. My advice to anyone thinking of buying there is to check the feedback. If someone gets burnt by a seller, they’ll say so. Don’t buy from someone with negative feedback. Keeps people honest.
Now, can I have my recipe? Maybe we can just skip the turkey and dressing.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Jackie Joy Reno, Nevada
From: “Marilyn Maddalena”
Interesting thread about the horses. We have a dear friend in Northern California who is a ferrier — there’s so much need for his services that he can’t keep up with it. When I was a little girl in southern Iowa, there was a blacksmith who made the shoes for our horses and ponies, and he was mea n and nasty — he used to tell me that he’d feed my pet pony to his minks a nd they’d eat him alive!! And folks now wonder why wearing a mink coat does n’t bother me — but I digress: As for quilts celebrating horses, I am now making one on commission which features my client’s daughter and her hors es in photographs taken at horse shows plus a very small portion of the award ribbons she has received over the years — and the one I’m making for mys elf features ribbons I won many years ago in horse shows. So, you see, there ARE quilts being made to honor horses. Oh, my, how could there NOT be? One of the most poignant horse-lover quilts was seen at a Northern California quilt show this year designed by a very young girl (age five or six) and made by her grandmother, with photographs of well-loved and treasured hor ses From a long-time horse lover…….. Marilyn Maddalena
From: Patricia L Cummings
With all this talk of ferriers, tarriers, and terriers, I thought I’d add my own story. When I was a child, we lived in the city but I always loved horses, so my parents paid for me to take horsebackriding lessons. Then, a dream come true, we moved to an 89 acre farm in a country town. At first, I kept a “camp horse” during the winters, and then he became too old to be in service for that duty, so we kept him permanently. He was a retired Standardbred trotter and a more gentle horse than you could ever imagine.
To keep him company, my parents bought a 3 1/2 yr. old, wild acting, half-Arabian gelding who acted as though he was just unleashed from the gates of you-know-where. On one occasion, when I was leading him out of the barn to the pasture, he knocked me down and somehow, his hoof caught my head…Just wild!
Well, we did not have a ferrier in our own home town. There was an older man from a distant town who would make the rounds of all the farms in our area and would shoe my horses, “Montana Red”, and “Lucky”.
On one particular day, Mr. Skillin had just finished shoeing the older horse. Then, “Lucky” was up next. That young horse kept trying to bite the ferrier and kick him. Poor Mr. Skillin kept popping nitroglycerin tablets. Breaking into a sweat and having labored breathing, it was all he could do to finish the job. The next day, we read in the paper that our ferrier had died.
Shortly after that, I came home from school and went to feed and water the horses in the barn, as usual. They were gone, without a trace. The ironic part of it is that all of the saddles, bridles, halters, bitting rig, etc. were still in place. My parents never discussed it and I never had the heart to ask them to confirm my deep suspicion that they had been given or sold for reasons I wouldn’t want to think about, even now. This was the most heartbreaking experience of my life, up to that point in time, and the total lack of explanation haunts me to this day and is a secret that my mother will take to her grave.
Yes, being a ferrier is a difficult job. So is being a child.
I still love horses. They are magnificent, beautiful creatures.
Pat
From: “Sharon in NC”
I grew up with horses and have great memories of taking off all day on horse back with my cousins and riding until dark. My granddad kept farm horses and one of my first memories at age 10 was having to rein the draft horse and plow Mom-maw’s garden. My grandfather walking behind he hollering commands until I picked up on Ginger’s vocabulary……lol.. Pop-paw did all the shoeing himself on the draft horses. Once we had this very mean stallion named Nugget for his gold nugget colored coat. Pop-paw was shoeing him one day and that nasty horse took a bite out of Pop-paw’s shoulder the size of my fist. Pop-paw was so mad he turned around and hit that horse with his fist square between the eyes and dropped that horse to his knees. I was around 13 and thought for sure he had killed that horse with one blow…lol.. Needless to say Nugget recovered but he never tried to bite when being shoed again. Nugget went to a new home the next year when he decided the electric fence was a chew toy and the shock didn’t faze him.
On a quilty note we used to go to the horse races at Stoneybrook steeplechases in Pinehurst, NC, many years ago.I recall seeing many quilts with horse themes there during the pre-events. It was always so neat seeing someone with their fancy dining table with linen tablecloths, silver salvers, candelabras and servants eating outside right next to a bunch of bikers and their BBQ grill..lol..I you ever get a chance to experience Stoneybrook DO IT!!!
From: Barbara Burnham
Gail Ingram <gingram@> wrote: What advice would you give someone who is in the early stages of collecting quilts about places where she/he might find good buys, good quilts? Any personal experiences to support your recommendations?
Buy what speaks to you, if you can afford it. Watching the newspaper ads for local auctions listing quilts sometimes turns up “non-collectibles” as I politely call them, but here is my “best find” for under $100. This beautiful scrappy top was “tied” using knitting yarn, backed and bound with a yellow-flowered 70’s fabric, and a very heavy wool blanket inside. (Don’t hit Delete yet!) Thrilled to take this treasure home, I spent an afternoon gingerly cutting off the yarn ties, and trashing the wool blanket, as I felt the weight and strain would surely damage these beautiful older fabrics. One row is quirky where it was added on, but I love it just the way it is, and enjoy looking at the early fabrics. Here are some pics: http://home.comcast.net/~bluebars/heartsfull.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~bluebars/hearts.jpg Barbara Burnham
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 16:45:50 -0800 | From: “Laurette Carroll” <rl.carroll@>
buying adventures?
Several years ago a few friends and I took a day trip to a small town about 100 miles away. We had lunch and did a little shopping at several of the antique shops in the area. One of the shops had a room way at the back with several antique quilts, and one of the quilts called out to me, “take me home, I belong with you”.
The quilt didn’t have a price tag so I inquired about the price. The salesgirl didn’t have a clue how much it was and tried to reach the shop owner by phone. She was unsuccessful, so I gave her my name and phone number so they could call me back with the price, and I had to leave “My Quilt” there.
The sales girl did call back with a price the next day, which I couldn’t afford at the time, and I made a counter offer, and after a couple of these phone conversations over several days time, we were still not able to come to an agreement.
One day I thought, “I just have to have that quilt”, and I jumped in the car late one afternoon and drove down by myself to see the quilt and possibly talk to the owner again. Unfortunately the shop was closed, and in talking with the folks in the neighboring shop I learned that they hadn’t been open for days. So sadly, I accepted that the quilt was not to be mine, but I was far from forgetting it.
About a year later I went to a “Country Sale”, which was kind of an outdoor antiques venue that was set up for a day, about 50 miles from home. This sale had about 100 vendors of nice country antiques, and many carried quilts. While strolling around the booths checking out the quilts, I came across “My Quilt”. Now this is a very unusual quilt, being a charm quilt from the 1880’s made in the tumbler pattern, with a wonderful backing fabric, and I had no problem recognizing it. I picked up the quilt and hugging it to myself, spoke to the sales girl in the booth. It turns out that she was the owner of that antiques shop I had visited and she said that the shop had gone out of business about a year earlier.
Well, the quilt was priced at about half of the original amount and much less than I had originally offered for it, and the owner discounted it even further, and I finally took “My Quilt” home with me. This quilt is still one of my favorite quilts.
Laurette Carroll Southern California
Look to the Future With Hope
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 20:09:51 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
Gail, from my seat as a longtime dealer in antique quilts, the advice I give those new to the collecting field is:
1) educate yourself; learn everything you can on the types of quilts you are interested in acquiring. This includes joining and participating in on-line groups like QHL, looking at quilts on eBay, looking at the collection at IQSC, going to major shows where antique quilts are offered, etc.
2. buy the best you can afford, but don’t buy for investment. Buy what ‘speaks to you’ – if you buy for investment, you may be disappointed in the return later. “the best you can afford today” can be replaced by something better as your collection matures.
3. decide what you want to collect; what will the scope of the collection be? Consider buying only those quilts you can “see with both hands.”
4. if you are unsure of the market and the merchandise, make a friend of your antique dealer. A good dealer will be willing to share information with you about items for sale, and should be able to direct you toward sources of self-information as well.
Happy collecting!
Xenia.
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Gail and list, I always have luck at the “secondary” antiques shows. My mother ( an antique snob) refers to them as a “shlucky” shows. Many of the “Shador” managed shows – on the East coast – fall into this catagory. These are the shows where there are as many collectible dealers as there are “antique” dealers. These provide good hunting cause many of the dealers – and pickers they buy from – buy whole estates, or shop the local, low end auction houses. As many of these dealers are not knowedgeable about textiles, there are still “ponies” to be found under the hay! I got my one “great” quilt from a picker. It was peeking out from a plastic garbage bag 23 years ago – a c 1790/1800 Central Medallion with stuffed work and trapunto. I was so green I only dared date it some 15 years after I bought it. I just “knew” it was a honey. I bought it sight unseen – just from the part that was peeking out of the bag. I have a friend and client, who has an astonishing collection of antique clothing, and lives in LA. He has spent 30 years going to the Sunday morning swap meets. ( I don’t think we have this kind of open air sale on the East Coast). He has really found amazing textiles – to this day. His latest purchase was a costume from Norma Shearer’s “Marie Antoinette”. Happy hunting Newbie Ps, Gail, I bet you my grandfather’s recipe for Fish House Punch ( from Philadelphia’s Rabbit Club – a cooking club for gentlmen )- will put you under the dining room table just as fast as your recipe! At the age of 22 I asked him for the recipe, he told me I wasn’t old enough yet! I pursuaded him. I was a poor college student, so could not afford to make a lot, just enough for every one to be relaxed ( but not sick). Boy, was it one GREAT party!
