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Welcome to Antique Quilt History.
Hello!
In the past women's needlework, including quilt making and the other home arts created by women, have been generally viewed by society as "pastimes" and "busy work", or nothing more than amusements. While family members may have recognized the love and skill that went into making quilts and other textiles for the home, these textiles generally have not been viewed as art or even as historical artifacts.
In a society that has viewed all manner of men's art as worthwhile and valuable, even the most beautiful and intricately made quilts have remained almost invisible to the art world. Many lovely quilts are hiding in chests and closets, if not long forgotten in attics, and most have even lost their provenance. Quilts have been seen as something used for warmth, with no more interest to them than that of manufactured blankets.
With more information becoming available, both in print and online, about the history of antique and vintage quilts this under appreciated art will someday be truly valued for its beauty. Hopefully in the future, our antique and vintage quilts made with love and an eye for beauty, will be appreciated for their historical importance, and viewed as the artwork many of them are. With this site I hope to make more of these antique quilts available for viewing and share a little information on the history of our antique quilts.
My quilt collection
My study of antique quilts began over 20 years ago when I purchased a 19th. Century patchwork quilt top at a flea market. I had never considered buying antique quilts before, but I was attracted to the fabrics in the quilt, especially when I realized that the quilt was a hundred years old and still in excellent condition.
When I studied the quilt at home I was charmed by the old fabrics and the handwork and time the maker had put into the quilt. I was also a little saddened that the quilt had become separated from the quilt maker's family. I was curious about the quilt's history, but since it came with no provenance I just decided to adopt it into my own family. This was the beginning of my quilt collection, and as my collection grew so did my interest in researching the old quilts. I wanted to know about the fabrics, the patterns, and learning to date them. Studying these quilts turned into an enchanting adventure, ever widening and never ending.
I look forward to sharing some of the quilts and quilt history I've picked up along the way, and
I hope you enjoy this site and the quilt history articles.
Hello!
In the past women's needlework, including quilt making and the other home arts created by women, have been generally viewed by society as "pastimes" and "busy work", or nothing more than amusements. While family members may have recognized the love and skill that went into making quilts and other textiles for the home, these textiles generally have not been viewed as art or even as historical artifacts.
In a society that has viewed all manner of men's art as worthwhile and valuable, even the most beautiful and intricately made quilts have remained almost invisible to the art world. Many lovely quilts are hiding in chests and closets, if not long forgotten in attics, and most have even lost their provenance. Quilts have been seen as something used for warmth, with no more interest to them than that of manufactured blankets.
With more information becoming available, both in print and online, about the history of antique and vintage quilts this under appreciated art will someday be truly valued for its beauty. Hopefully in the future, our antique and vintage quilts made with love and an eye for beauty, will be appreciated for their historical importance, and viewed as the artwork many of them are. With this site I hope to make more of these antique quilts available for viewing and share a little information on the history of our antique quilts.
My quilt collection
My study of antique quilts began over 20 years ago when I purchased a 19th. Century patchwork quilt top at a flea market. I had never considered buying antique quilts before, but I was attracted to the fabrics in the quilt, especially when I realized that the quilt was a hundred years old and still in excellent condition.
When I studied the quilt at home I was charmed by the old fabrics and the handwork and time the maker had put into the quilt. I was also a little saddened that the quilt had become separated from the quilt maker's family. I was curious about the quilt's history, but since it came with no provenance I just decided to adopt it into my own family. This was the beginning of my quilt collection, and as my collection grew so did my interest in researching the old quilts. I wanted to know about the fabrics, the patterns, and learning to date them. Studying these quilts turned into an enchanting adventure, ever widening and never ending.
I look forward to sharing some of the quilts and quilt history I've picked up along the way, and
I hope you enjoy this site and the quilt history articles.
Thanks for visiting,
Laurette Carroll
Quilt maker and collector from California
Quilts from the collection of Laurette Carroll
All photos and articles on this site are copyright by Laurette Carroll 2015.
Laurette Carroll
Quilt maker and collector from California
Quilts from the collection of Laurette Carroll
All photos and articles on this site are copyright by Laurette Carroll 2015.
