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Across the Fence: NANCE IN FRANCE!!!! Quilt hanging photos 4 you! |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 10:02:06 AM
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Nance-- I took some photos of the quilt hanging you admire so very much. I still can't for the life of me figure out "why" whoever painstakingly took the time to do this work actually "did" this work!!! It's so lovely, and I would love to know it's history. It's been dated to about 1870-1890, and the threads are hand dyed. The quilt material is cotton, and is hand done, albeit very simply. It seems that the whole point of this piece was the letters (without rhyme or reason to me or you).
Anyway, the first two are of the whole piece, the remaining are letter details in A, B, a G (I believe), and my favorite, the only "off color" M which was probably blue but has faded into a periwinkle almost. Each letter is about 8 x 8 and is done on an invidual square and then pieced together to form the "graph" design. The thread colors are red, gold, light peachish color, blues and gold/greens. The only color that appears to have retained its strong dye is the red. Everything else seems to be diminished, but not unattractively :)
Let me know what you (or anyone else who sees this thinks...it's a very curious but beautiful piece. I feel lucky to have it!!!
"A"
"B"
"G" or "C" or maybe "E"
"M"
Flower detail
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"... NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9094 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9094 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 11:26:22 AM
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JONNI, Boy that really is something. I love it. I have no idea why those letters would be picked unless its some kind of code, or I would guess those letters meant something to whoever made it. But its a dandy. NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
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sissysquilts
True Blue Farmgirl
368 Posts
sissy
wa
USA
368 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 11:40:13 AM
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Hi Jonni! I have a family piece (though much more simplified stitching) that was done with the initials of the children in the family. Mine is done sampler style and the relative who did it was only 14 at the time then initials were added at age 16 which I think were her own children if the history is correct. Could this be something like that? Regardless of the purpose it is so beautiful! You've really got a treasure for sure *~* Always great to find histories on pieces though :)
Farmgirl Sister #117
"The good stars met in your horoscope. Made you of spirit,fire and dew" Robert Browning |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 12:23:23 PM
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Nance, I even thought of some sort of club, like the female masons or whatever...but seemed like there would be a symbol,too. I'm glad that I can share it with you (all), I just think it's beautiful.
It could be, Sissy...I often wonder if it might have been used in a church, though again, I wouldn't know the significance of the letters. I am, though, very grateful my mother found it for me. This was my first "antique" gift at 14. She purchased it from a quilt dealer in Madison, Indiana, but the dealer didn't think it was local (to Indiana)--seemed more English to her, but lord only knows the way objects find their way through history!!!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"... NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 8:47:05 PM
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Jonni, What a treasure, and so detailed. Beautiful!!!
listening to the quiet moments Farmgirl #39 www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2008 : 12:59:52 AM
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Jonni, thank you SO MUCH for posting these photos of this exquisite mystery quilt! You are so sweet to remember I was hoping to get a really good look at it! I love the close up photos especially, because you can really see the quality of the stitching. That is a neat idea that maybe it was initials of club members. I had thought perhaps it was the initials of the maker's children, in birth order. (If so, Lord have mercy, when did she ever find TIME to quilt this, ha!!).
What a wonderful gift your mother has given you. Hugs, Nance |
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yarnmamma
True Blue Farmgirl
4247 Posts
Linda
Clarks Summit
PA
USA
4247 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2008 : 04:56:25 AM
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Perhaps it's the first initial of the first name of family members with all the same last name. Just a guess.
**************** May we always be in thankful contemplation of God who presides over us all. Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous farmgirl #71 Linda in PA |
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yarnmamma
True Blue Farmgirl
4247 Posts
Linda
Clarks Summit
PA
USA
4247 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2008 : 04:57:34 AM
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thanks so much for showing us! It is fantastic!
**************** May we always be in thankful contemplation of God who presides over us all. Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous farmgirl #71 Linda in PA |
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Across the Fence: NANCE IN FRANCE!!!! Quilt hanging photos 4 you! |
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