A Pieced, Appliqué And Embroidered Wool
Centennial Quilt...celebrating America
Probably Massachusetts, 1876-1883
Worked with a patriotic fervor and pride, this schoolgirl quilt celebrates the history of the United States with highly detailed applied and stitched figures, scenes and inscriptions. With studious detail, this quilt commemorates over one hundred and forty important historical figures and events, beginning in 1492 with Christopher Columbus, and ending with the assignation of President Garfield. Names and dates of key figures in the American Revolution and the Civil War are painstakingly stitched into the wool, accompanied by embroidered motifs, figures and quotations. Drawing inspiration from the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia, American technological advances are praised in this quilt, beginning with "Electrical Discoveries By Franklin 1792" and ending with "Brooklyn Bridge 1883".
Although this quilt features political events, technological advances and historical figured across the nation, several references suggest that the quilt was worked near Boston. For example, "Salem Witchcraft 1692" and "Harvard College was founded 1636" are two events which may have been more pertinent to a late 19th century Massachusetts schoolgirl. In addition, the references to several New England born poets suggest that this quilt was worked by an educated young woman raised in Massachusetts. (61.5 by 46.5-inches.)
Price: $9,500
258-2
18th Century Flame Stitch Purse
Belonging to Timothy McElwain
With McElwain's personal documents
An 18th century flame stitch purse with the embroidered initials "TM" for owner Timothy McElwain of Hampshire County Massachusetts. This large purse with four interior compartments measures 8 by 9.5-inches opened and is in generally good condition with as expected "in use" wear and minor losses. Included within this lot is McElwain's commission appointing him as Lieutenant of the Eighteenth Company in the Third Regiment of the Militia. Also, a period record memorializing the birth and death of his children; plot plan of his real property and various deeds. Included are a most interesting last will and testament clearly within the bounds of social culture of the period.
Price: $3,500
621-72
New England Embroidered Pocket
Circa 1800
Circa 1800 large woman's work pocket, wool embroidered on linen. The pocket is 17-inches long and 14-inches at it's widest point. The pocket has some minor thread loss from use but nothing serious. The embroidered pocket has been professional framed for display.
Price: $3,950
329-8
Rare English 17th Century
Embroidered Silk Draw String Purse
This small English 3.25-inch embroidered silk on silk satin in the 17th century was most likely done by a young girl as an exercise to improve her needlework skills. There is a similar bag in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum that was found in a young girl's embroidered casket (box for special items) to hold personal possessions, possibly coins. Another theory is that bags such as this were made to be given as gifts to someone special. At 3.25-inches and of such fragile materials it was obviously not meant to be used for practical purposes. The decoration embroidered upon it was either copied from a pattern book or the individual pattern might have been purchased. Early embroidered motifs generally tell us something about the maker. In this case the acorn could represent the patience the young embroiderer was to learn or it might be representative of how her savings would grow from its start as a seedling. The condition of this bag is very good to excellent with minor wear to the silk satin. The bag is bound with a combination of braided silk and metallic threads.
Price: $4,450
621-3
Crimson Silk Masonic Apron with Hand Painted Scene
Gentleman and Native American
Condition: excellent.
Dimensions: 17-inches by 18-inches.
Price: $6,500
980-19
An Outstanding and Fine Gentleman's Embroidered Wallet
A Watercolor Portrait Of The Owners Homestead
Second Half Of The Eighteenth Century
Probably Townsend, Massachusetts
The purse:
Worked in wool yarns, a fine canvas-work of a very sophisticated floral design...cream, mustard, red and rose colored wool used in creating the embroidered wild roses and tulips. The wild roses are wrought with a French knot in the center...pedals with running stitch. The decoration is against a variegated field of shades of green, all edges bound with original gold wool hand-woven tape and tied closed with the same tape. The interior fitted with three compartments is lined in soft green homespun glazed wool. (Approximately 8.5 X 5 inches.)
The house portrait:
The accompanying watercolor depicts the homestead of the proposed owner of the purse...that stands today's and is quite wonderful in itself...white center chimney dwelling with green door and shutters; dooryard with blue and white fence. The right side yard has a brown picket fence; also depicted is a gray carriage house with brick red door. (3 X 5 inches.)
The lore and condition:
We state with confidence that both the purse and watercolor are without compromise. Accompanying the lot is a report related to the homestead, its history and current standing; genealogy and supposition as compiled by a local historian. We also have the last will and testament found with the purse belonging to the Townsend gentleman...
Price: $22,000
191-168
Oriental Rug - SOLD
Measures 41-inches by 59.5-inches.
144-10 - SOLD
Margaret Quackenbush's Canvaswork Fan
Circa 1760
Margaret Quackenbush worked this oversize fireplace fan using the popular Irish stitch pattern with wool over canvas. The fan is representative of the best American needlework, the foundation of a young woman's education, of the 18th century.
The Quackenbush family emigrated from Holland in the 17th century and the family roots are still firmly planted from New York City to upstate in the Albany area.
This colorful embroidery is in excellent condition with a couple of very minor areas of thread loss. The back and binding are of the same vibrant green wool. The fan measures 10.75-inches by 15.5-inches.
Price: $9,500
ACD
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