Monday, February 14, 2011

Ding-ding-ding-ding - Bargain!


It's Valentine's Day, and I love eBay! Last week, I bid on this quilt and won it for just $62. Ding-ding-ding-ding - bargain! I bought my first wool utility quilt around 2001, and since then I've found a few really wonderful wool quilts. This one was being sold as a "Victorian Wool Patchwork Crazy" but it looks like nothing you might expect from the Victorian era. To my eye, it looks more like a southern utility quilt in the same freeform, improvisational style as a Gee's Bend quilt.


The quilt came from a seller in Baltimore. It is made of irregular patches, with mostly dark blues, greens, grays, and purples, and a touch of pumpkin/mustard. It is backed and bound with plaid flannel. There are three small holes on the front side, a few other small repaired holes, and a red stitched inscription in the center. The inscription appears to be a "96" and I'm not sure if it's meant to represent the year 1896, but if so, it would be a very early example of a wool utility quilt. Regardless of its true age, the quilt sings and dances. What a wonderful Valentine's Day treat!

10 comments:

  1. You definitely hit the jackpot with this little beauty! I love it!

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  2. This is a wonderful quilt. Congratulations! The quilting pattern is not one I've seen on older quilts. Then again, I haven't looked closely at very many old quilts.

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  3. If I had to guess when it was made, without inscription, I would've said 1920's to 1940's, but that "96" leaves me wondering. A lot will depend on the age of the fabrics, and the plaid flannel may be a big clue. As soon as I find out more, I'll post it. My kinda quilt. Earthy colors, funky, and looks like a piece of modern art.

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  4. Yep, most of my quilts came from Ebay - but here in the UK, it doesn't seem so good anymore....but I still like looking. I like to think that I save them from being made into teddy bears or used by interior decorators...Pippa

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  5. A very cool quilt, lucky you to have found it!

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  6. What a terrific graphic quilt!! Love the quilting too.

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  7. What a great find! I love the bold graphics created by what could be sleeves and cuffs of a garment.
    A true singing and dancing quilt indeed!

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  8. Love your graphic quilt...you have more luck with ebay and quilts than anyone I know!

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  9. Definitely a lucky find, and I, too, love the quilting. Check out today's blog to see another bargain.

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