Historic American QuiltsHistoric American Antique Quilts
` Historic American Quilts
The following are from our long collected collections, many from Midwest estates
There are two new whitework pieces in the All White Folder, take a look!
442 Broderie Perse Medallion and Frame Mosaic Coverlet, 1830-50, 91x94, Ireland. This very beautiful piece has been examined by a textile curator at the Ulster Museum, and much of the following description reviews her comments. In Ireland, coverlets often were not made with batting, and this style of medallion surrounded by mosaic piecing was known from the early 19th century onward. The fabrics are glazed cotton furnishing fabrics, some hand blocked and some rolled printed cottons. It is all hand pieced except for the backing. The backing is white cotton twill with roll ends of cotton sateen machine stitched to extend the large size, probably toward the 1850 time period. This is a museum quality piece, according to the curator.
I attained this coverlet from a lady who had purchased it at auction in Dublin from the estate of an unknown family. I have had it for some time because I did not want to sell it, but the time has come to let someone else enjoy its beauty. Of course, it is in excellent condition. Making no profit whatever, I am offering it at $6000.
597 Whig Rose applique, 88x101, ca 1870. There are nine whig rose blocks, three 10-inch borders and one 7-inch border of roses on v-shaped vines. On the border the quilting is about 1/2 in. apart at 6-7 st/in "v's". The body of the quilt is quilted in contours and arcs. The green leaves and petals are interesting 1860's prints. The yellow centers have popped or are popping as can be seen in the last photo. The binding was worn, so I removed it and fashioned the inner part into a new binding, reapplying it by hand, That's Ok, it only took me several months!, but now the quilt is all original material, except for the thread. The original thread was gray-tan, 6-ply, with 3 twists to the left. This was manufactured after 1860. There is one small brown spot on the top, otherwise the quilt is in fine condition. If you are a collector of old quilts, this is a classic and colorful one to have. $1200
706 Carolina Lily or Tulip, 65x79, mid 19th century, from Stark Brothers Nurseries in Hannibal, MO. The lilies are red with green print leaves. I have seen tulip patterns similar to the Carolina Lilly motif. The lilies are hand appliqued but the stems are machined on. There is double binding in double pink piping and green with yellow print. The lilly blocks are quilted in 9st/in lines 1/4 in apart. Each of the set white blocks is quilted in a different motif: four feathers; one large rose surrounded by roses, leaves and stars; roses on two curving stems; leaves on four curving stems; two leaves and a coxcomb,; and perhaps others. Needless to say the quilting is excellent. The backing is white. The condition is excellent. $1800
736 Fox and Geese, 79x71, ca 1880, from neighbor's grandfather in Toulon, Illinois. Navy and very small polka dots on white baciground, white backing, 1/4 in. white binding, 3 in. Navy border. Triple line quilting acoss pattern, Grid of 1/2 in. is elsewhere quilted @ 10 st/in. Round corners. Excellent quilt with a few smudges to be washed out. Pattern is in Finley (1919), but therre is a signature in ink on the back" JE 12".The triple line quilting indicates around 1880. If you want a traditional quilt with excellent quilting and in excellent condition, this is it. $850
437 Light and Dark Log Cabin, 73x80, ca 1880's, Snyder County, PA. You could tell this was from Pennsylvania from their favorite color, cheddar, and here we have two flavors, maybe mild and sharp. The logs are about 1/2 in wide, or maybe a finger wide. There are madder browns and of course the red is made from madder as well. The various shirting prints probably caused a good rumble through the jumble bin. The backing is a very attractive madder stripe, and the binding is made of the same fabric and very narrow, perhaps indicating an earlier date for the quilt. There are quilted grids on the borders and along several of the "logs" at 8-9 st/in. All is hand-pieced. Excellent condition. $1000
569, Ohio Tulip Applique, about 1850, 69x75, has four signatures in the top. There is tremendous quilting at 8-10 st/in on this piece, probably cooperatively done by the four people who left their signatures on each side (safety pins). The quilting patterns are varied and fun to find. The Turkey red is fading a bit, and the over dyed green is yellowish on the top, but has turned blue on the binding. The binding is slightly worn. This is very clean and is an excellent example of the workmanship of the mid-19th century. $1200
724 Flying Geese, 66x74, 1860-1890. 1860-70 mostly brown fabrics in "geese", some reds on white background. Sashing is navy with white polka dots.The applied binding is navy with small white stars; backing is a tan and off-white graphic print. The quilting is 8 st/in following the seams and in diagonals in the sashing. The pieces are early machine-stitched. The fabrics are in very good condition; there is a cup-sized stain on the backing. This is a quilt any collector would be proud to own. $600
696 Log Cabin, Courthouse Steps, 68x76, 1880-1900, found in Illinois. Vibrant colors of wool challis and other wool fabric combinations. The top is not quilted , but the bottom is patched in two different coordinating prints and is quilted in straight lines. I assume it is quilted lightly to the foundation. The stitches are 6st/in.There are a few moth holes in the red centers.The binding is a black fabric as in some parts of the quilts. The quilt is very light weight, probably because of the wool/combination fabrics. $600.
711 Double Irish Chain, 70x89, Illinois, ca1880. All hand stitched, including the binding. This is Turkey red and faded green against a white background with white backing. The binding is faded green. The fading of the green indicates a synthetic dye was used. The squares are 13/8 each side and the quilting through them is 7 st/in in diagonal lines about 1/4 in apart. The ground has 1in diameter cicrcles . The binding is 3/8 in wide and hand applied. The quilt is in excellent condition. It adds spark, yet gentleness to a room and goes well with any floral. $795
716 Log Cabin Barn Raising, 72x79, 1890, Iowa. Cadet blues and double pinks on front with mourning prints, shirtings and red. The border is double pink. The back is solid cadet blue. There is thin batting. The quilting is 7-8 st/in in diagonals. This is lovely toss-about quilt that reminds of a century past. It is easily used for many purposes today. $425
723 Solomon's Puzzle, 1870-80, 70x88, Illinois. At first glance, you might say this pattern is Drunkard's Path, but it is a rearrangement of the pieces to give the quilt a different appearance, a different meaning. The fabrics are a fascinating combination of truly vintage 1870's drabs, tans, grays, madders and pumpkin with shirtings as the grounds for the pieces in the blocks in some. The quilter had an eye for composition with the double border and corners like pinwheels. The backing is buff, and the binding is an added thin print, reminiscent of earlier quilts. All is hand pieced, and the quilting is 9st/in in clamshells or elbow quilting. One block has been repaired with vintage madder print appliqued into place. As can be seen from these photos, there are many stains, and some of the fabrics are soft; the binding has a litttle wear. I am contemplating a washing attempt, but may wait until Spring. In spite of its obvious use and hard knocks, this quilt speaks of the era in which it was made and life on the prairie. $410, as is.
All White Quilts and Coverlets