Quilts

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About Antique Quilts

Quiltmaking has been a popular pastime in the U.S. since the 1700s, and today quilts are highly collectible as works of folk art with historical significance (or just nice to look at). Antique quilts vary widely in design and materials, and can be hard to date definitively because they may have been assembled in phases from older quilts or blocks.

Made from a variety of materials, from elaborate fabrics to scraps of old clothing and sometimes even old feed bags, quilts have both a functional and social significance. Groups of women often gathered to create quilts together, and the finished result was sometimes given as a gift for a special occasion (like a wedding) or as a symbol of friendship. Quilts can also document a family’s history as the pieces sewn together can come from baby blankets, old clothes, etc...

Antique quilts are typically categorized by style (broad classification) and pattern (of the individual blocks). Some notable styles include central motif, log cabin, album, circular, star, patriotic, thematic, representational, whole-cloth, charm, utility, signature, medallion, redwork, appliqué small block, applique 4-block, strippey, Colonial Revival and crazy quilts, among others.

Some notable patterns (of individual blocks) include Sunbonnet Sue, fan, log cabin, Rose of Sharon, 9-patch, Whig’s Defeat, Pot and Flowers, hole in the barn door, bowtie, and so on. There are some situations when the pattern (block) name was also used as the style name (this was common in the 20th century), such as Sunbonnet Sue, Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Dresden Plate and Double Wedding Ring.

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Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: An Introduction to Identifying and Collecting Antique Quilts

Many antique quilt collectors think of themselves as caretakers of historical documents, made at the hands of…  [more]

American Patchwork Quilts

The antique quilts which collectors admire today for their colorfulness and variety of design represent two o…  [more]

An Interview With Tramp Art Collector Clifford Wallach

My first book, "Tramp Art, One Notch at a Time", was self-published published in 1998. At the time we started…  [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

International Quilt Study Center

International Quilt Study Center

This University of Nebraska affiliated site showcases a spectacular collection of over 1800 colorful quilts from th… [read review or visit site]

Antiquequiltdating.com

Antiquequiltdating.com

Though not an actual online dating site, the subject here is certainly love... of quilts. Kimberly Wulfert has put … [read review or visit site]

The Quilt Index

The Quilt Index

This collaborative project provides a visual index of almost 2,000 antique quilts across multiple museums and colle… [read review or visit site]

American Folk Art Museum

American Folk Art Museum

The American Folk Art Museum's website showcases current and past exhibitions along with their permanent collection… [read review or visit site]

Anonymous Works

Anonymous Works

This blog combines American primitive folk art, vintage vernacular photography, outsider art, and other interesting… [read review or visit site]

The Outsider Art Pages

The Outsider Art Pages

A modern look at folk and outsider art with a focus on what people are doing to keep these traditions alive. The si… [read review or visit site]

Folk Art in Bottles

Folk Art in Bottles

Whether you call them Bottle Whimseys, Whimsey Bottles, Puzzle Bottles, or Whimsies, this site showcases great folk… [read review or visit site]

Index of American Design

Index of American Design

The Index of American Design project (1935-1942) was an effort to catalog American decorative arts objects from the… [read review or visit site]

Stoveburner.com

Stoveburner.com

A stunning collection of 162 images of stoveburners, those corroded cast iron elements that power stoves, broilers,… [read review or visit site]


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Clubs & Associations: Folk Art


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Recent News: Quilts

Source: Google News

Packwood House Museum presents quilts: studies in color ...

MLive.com
Packwood House Museum presents quilts: studies in color ...
Examiner.com
"Pennsylvania Quilts: Studies in Color; A Century of Antique Quilts from the Packwood House Museum Collection." Exhibit in the Kelly Gallery and throughout ...
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative launches new exhibit honoring ...

A fine weekend for a fair

Camden Advertiser
... of the Camden Quilters as well as stalls selling fabrics, patterns, kits, sewing bits and pieces and antique quilts and a quilt raffle at the door. ...

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative silent auction

Examiner.com
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative silent auction
Examiner.com
The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is sponsoring a Slow and Silent auction of vintage quilts from June 15 through June 25 on their website. ...

Fox Island Days

Peninsula Gateway
She will share her own antique quilts, tell the quilter's stories and share her knowledge of quilts as they relate to folk art. Gately also will explain ...

Perryville car show is Saturday

Providence Journal
Perryville car show is Saturday
Providence Journal
... displays about the history of Perryville and antique quilts, a market place and silent auction and fixings including South County Jonnycakes, ...

Artist profile: Lynda Bylsma

Bellingham Herald
A: This is what I believe to be the story behind the vintage quilt. Etta Aldrich lived in Minnesota and had 11 children. When the third of these died, ...

ACROSS NOVA SCOTIA

TheChronicleHerald.ca
The 25 antique and vintage quilts are part of the private collection of Diane MacLeod Shink, a certified quilt appraiser, lecturer and co-author of Canadian ...

Happenings in and around Cape May

Shore News Today
Karen Dever, an AQS certified quilt appraiser, will be available to evaluate new and antique quilts on Saturday June, 27. Written appraisals are necessary ...

Additions to Heritage Fair

Northwest Herald
The fair also will feature a vintage quilts display with commentary by appraiser and quilt expert Sandy Schweitzer. The presentation will be at noon and 3 ...

Economy breathes new life into old things at garage sales

Lansing State Journal
She ran her garage sale for two weekends, selling some of her favorite antique quilts and linens. "I'm parting with things I didn't want to," she said. ...

Top eBay Auctions    (get weekly Quilts email)

Status       Display       How this works
Rare 1900s Pa Feather Star & Redwork Antique Quilt$895.00 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid 17 watchers
Folky Civil War Era Quilt C1860-1880$425.00 Ends in 2 hours 13 bids 37 watchers
A Dutch Rose Quilt.circa 1860-1870 Great Vining Border$400.00 Ends in 2 hours 4 bids 22 watchers
Hand Made Quilt$350.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 2 watchers
1880's Indigo Blue & Double Pink Antique Quilt$175.00 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
Beautiful 1930/40s American Beauty Roses Applique Quilt$152.50 Ends Thursday 13 bids 27 watchers
Handmade Cross Stitch Vintage Quilt White W/ Blue$150.00 Ends in 22 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Vintage 50s/60s Sweet Floral Months Of The Year Quilt $149.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Sunbonnet Sue Quilt * Queen * Appliqued * Hand Quilted$148.50 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Grandmothers Flower Garden Quilt Calico Feedsac$127.50 Ends in 19 hours 11 bids 22 watchers
Rare Golden Poppy Flower Poppies Quilt~feather Quilting$127.50 Ends in 20 hours 5 bids 12 watchers
Huge Antique Star Garland Hand Stitched Quilt 91 X 85$126.28 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 11 watchers
Vintage Iris Applique Flower Scalloped Quilt Rare$105.50 Ends Thursday 22 bids 23 watchers
Native American Star Quilt Blanket Authentic Beautiful!$105.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 1 watcher
Vintage Pink/green/white Lancaster Rose Applique Quilt $102.50 Ends in 39 mins 8 bids 8 watchers
Antique Lot 1920s 30s 40s Cotton Quilt Scrap Fabric Vtg$102.50 Ends Monday 12 bids 24 watchers
1800s Red & White Oak Leaf & Reel Checkerboard Quilt~nr$100.99 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 23 watchers
Double Wedding Ring Vintage Bed Quilt Excellent Nice$100.00 Ends Monday 12 bids 29 watchers
Native American Star Quilt Blanket Authentic Beautiful!$100.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage Appliqued And Quilted Pansy Quilt 9-11 Spi$99.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 2 watchers
Early 1900's Blue & White Double Postage Stamp Quilt$97.95 Ends in 22 hours 8 bids 18 watchers
Beautiful Antique Green & White Hand Stitched Quilt$97.86 Ends in 21 hours 2 bids 19 watchers
Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt$89.99 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 23 watchers
Early Calico Handmade Sawtooth Quilt Triple Border Wow$86.00 Ends in 20 hours 9 bids 41 watchers
Baqb Vintage Chenille Bedspread Patchwork Quilt Blue$85.00 Ends in 19 hours 19 bids 25 watchers
Antique 19th C Feathered Star Antique Quilt Tiny Pieces$85.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Stunning Orange Peel Antique Vintage Quilt$80.99 Ends in 17 hours 6 bids 32 watchers
Vintage 40/50s African Amr Spinning Wheel Fortune Quilt$79.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Old Vintage 40/50s African Amer Windowpane Cross Quilt $79.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage Handsewn Wedding Ring Quilt Top W/ Flannel Back$79.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Crazy Quilt Sunflowers Stunning Vintage Bed Quilt W()w$77.89 Ends Monday 7 bids 41 watchers
Vintage 60's Double Wedding Ring Handmade Quilt$76.00 Ends in 20 hours 19 bids 26 watchers
Vintage,handmade Red & White Patchwork,quilt$75.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 8 watchers
Handcrafted Patchwork Quilt 70" X 86" Yellow & Green$74.95 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Flawless Vintage 1920s Hand Made Dresden Plate Quilt$71.95 Ends Thursday 5 bids 7 watchers
A C1880's Sawtooth Quilt$70.80 Ends in 2 hours 8 bids 22 watchers
Antique Gold & White Quilt~superb Quilting~must See! Buy it Now$70.80 Ends in 22 hours 5 bids 13 watchers
Big Old Double Wedding Ring Cotton Quilt, Hand Stitched$70.00 Ends Friday 5 bids 15 watchers
Gorgeous Antique Pink & White Handquilted Quilt~nr~ $69.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 16 watchers
Huge Antique Flying Geese Hand Stitched Quilt 92 X 75$69.58 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 12 watchers
C1920 Country Calico Tied Quilt Aafa$68.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vtg Quilt Antique 40's Grandmothers Flower Garden 64x84$66.00 Ends Friday 5 bids 14 watchers
Vintage Red And White Irish Chain Quilt$61.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 41 watchers
Handmade Double Wed. Ring Quilt~pink/yellow-exc!!$59.99 Ends in 15 mins 1 bid 1 watcher
Antique Red And White Quilt$59.95 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 20 watchers
Vintage Star Quilt Unusual Pattern$59.10 Ends in 18 hours 5 bids 20 watchers
Gorgeous Appliqued Floral Garden Vintage Quilt$58.00 Ends in 16 hours 5 bids
Collectible /vintage Amish Handmade Queen Quilt Blanket$57.00 Ends Sunday 11 bids 17 watchers
Vintage Yoyo Yo Yo Quilt Coverlet Hand Stitch Feed Sack$56.78 Ends Monday 11 bids 16 watchers
Vintage 30's Grandma's Flower Garden Handmade Quilt$56.55 Ends in 21 hours 10 bids 35 watchers

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