The ladies of Massachusetts have totally outdone themselves this time. Participating museums of Essex County loaned their early quilts for a special two day (only) display, curated by Stephanie Hatch and Susan Stowe. I was pleased and surprised to see my friends, Stella Blunt and Anne Barney, serving as volunteers. Stella embroidered a lovely miniature doll bed quilt that was hanging in the shop as an example for a new pattern based on an old quilt. Pattern directions were written by Susan Stowe.
A steady stream of people visited the exhibit, on both days, I was told. The focal point was one large room filled with old quilts layered on top of each other on every available large table. Each quilt seems to have a story, or a mystery that has been solved as to who made it, or who produced the fabrics. I was very surprised to see an early English “monochrome” in red and beige. As explained by Stephanie Hatch, this was not a French toile, but an English copperplate print.
Unusual quilts were the order of the day. The Crazy Quilt that featured the Lord’s Prayer, a word or a few words at a time had a little of everything, including theorem painting, a photo transfer of a girl or woman whom I’ve seen in at least one other crazy quilt, and lots of surface embroidery.
A felt “Flag” quilt composed of premiums for buying cigars, features country names no longer in existence, or names that would be misspelled by our standards today, such as “Corea” for “Korea.” This was unusual as it had one felt square that says, “Confederate States.”
The unique features of many of the old standbys such as the block “Hickory and Reel” that was pieced, rather than appliquéd made by an interesting second look.
My mind is swimming with thoughts of all of the many wonderful quilts I saw today. I wish you could have been there. I also wish that the museums would collaborate to create a print publication so that those who are not within traveling distance could enjoy these treasures, too.
The Wenham Museum hosted this special quilt event. They have a lovely gift shop, and an attached building that previously served as the actual living quarters for the couple who built it when our nation was young.
I particularly enjoyed the two bedrooms upstairs that had quilted petticoats on display, a Civil War soldier’s sewing pouch, a gorgeous wholecloth, yellow, silk quilt that was finely hand-quilted, and, a bed rugg, one of a handful in existence, according to the docent. Bed ruggs are made of wool, worked over a base of linsey-woolsey, and this particular one was indigo blue and white.
The museum’s collection of early doll quilts is beyond superb. Their gift shop offers many patterns for pieced and embroidered quilts of that kind.
One could spend all day at this museum, even if no special quilt display was in place. I did not even go downstairs where there is a major collection of trains and other things.
Sadly, I can offer you no visuals, just the consolation of saying, “Wish you’d been able to see this exhibit.” I am very thankful to museums who take the time to share with the public. I feel that it builds goodwill and a willingness by more people to support institutions that care for worldly goods. Jim and I love museums and visit them as often as possible. Today, I enjoyed the chance to chat with some friendly folks. If there is a museum near you, why not drop by soon?
Patricia Cummings
