How to contact Betsey Telford-Goodwin's Rocky Mountain Quilts:
Telephone - for orders or questions - 1-207-363-6800
FedEx - 130 York Street York, Maine 03909
Email - betsey@rmquilts.com
CONWC1 Victorian Crazy Quilt
c.1885
69 x 71 inches
New York
$8,500
Over the top is the first description of this silk Victorian Crazy
quilt. Comprised of 36 blocks, each measuring apx. 10" X 10" and joined
with a black silk velvet sashing apx. 1" in width. The embellishment of
the sashing takes this over the top Crazy Quilt to yet another level.
The black Velvet sashing is embroidered with a design, in gold twist
thread, of what resembles Mountain peaks and Valleys. This embellishment
is then embroidered with stars between each Peak and Valley. The
perimeter black silk Velvet border measures 1-7/8" wide, with a separately
applied 1/4" silk binding.
Before describing the incredible embellishment I must talk abut the
backing. This is the only instance I have ever known where the backing
appears to be a c.1850 or earlier quilted silk quilt! How affluent a
family must have been to have such a quilt...and now to use it as the
backing of another quilt. The passion for the Victorian Crazy Quilts was
developed by the affluent as silk velvet and silks were so
expensive...and then there was the leisure time needed to create these
works of art...where no two were ever alike! Crazy quilts were made as
embellishment for an era dominated by excess and over the top home
decoration.
In one these blocks we have a purple Pansy created from dimensional silk
fluffy threads surrounded by the initials H A M, a ribbon depicting a
little girl holding a doll surrounded by the initials A M T, with
raised silk velvet pieces and exquisite floral embroidery. A square with
a colorful Phoenix ..a symbol meaning rising from ashes...creating an
exquisite piece of art from scraps. I could go on, but you get the
picture! A one of a kind sophisticated work of textile art!
Always sent, for your approval, with free shipping.
