Textile Art from the 1890's in the color palate of the 2020's! Sophistication and artistic ability combine to create art! During the end of the 19th century, beginning around 1878, Victorian Crazy Quilts were the rage. Silk quilts were never made to use for warmth, but as embellishment. Victorian homes could never have enough art!

The muted colors of muted black, gray, browns and slate blue are artistically patterned then surrounded with embellishment in a muted gold floss. Almost all silk antique quilts are tied not quilted as is this one. Each square reminds me of a slate floor only in silk. Each Crazy Quilt is a totally unique design and therefore may be called original art!

We are happy to teach you how to hang this artistic masterpiece in a curatorial manner. What a focal point to any room ....or embellishment on a guest bed...where it is not used, but is enjoyed as art.

This quilt can be sent to you, with free shipping, for your approval...it is much more stunning when you can actually see it in person.

What a treasure is this little child's silk doll quilt. The little quilt is in its original, very loved, condition. The only exception is the restored binding as the, same color silk, was in shreds! As a rule all of my quilts are in perfect condition. This is an exception as I feel the wear is character of a very loved little doll quilt. Little antique doll quilts can be a passion to collect. Easy to display due to their diminutive size.

A replica of a Center Medallion quilt has been lovingly recreated in the form of a doll's quilt. The center medallion quilt has the prominent center, sides measuring 1-5/8" and here embellished with the letter "T". Was this the initial of her first or last name? From here the pattern goes out in waves. First a Log Cabin design with 1/2" wide Logs. Triangles measuring approximately 1-7/8" x 1-7/8" X 1" are pieced for the next row. Created during the passion for Crazy Quilts, the maker outlined each piece with beautiful embellishing stitching.

With these fabrics I feel that this is a treasured little quilt that must have come from an affluent family.

This quilt can be sent, with free shipping, for your approval.

A perfect miniature Victorian Crazy Quilt is a rare treasure. In all these years I have found only a few original miniature Crazy Quilts..this one is exceptional, as the quilt is finished with a beautiful deep rust color silk velvet backing!

This diminutive quilt shows a wonderful array of 1870's and 1880's silk and silk velvet fabrics. The embellishment of stitchery is perfect even displaying some stitching I have never seen before...Could the creator have designed these herself? There are dozens of perfectly executed embellishment stitches along with the beautiful fabrics. The little quilt is finished off with a silk rope style cording, in a matching deep rust color to the backing, used instead of a conventional binding adding to the sophistication of this piece of art.

Perfect to be displayed either on your wall, in that special small area, or as a centerpiece for your fabulous table.

All quilts are sent with free shipping for your in-home approval.

This miniature Fan design quilt is graphically wonderful as well as a perfect cuddle quilt. A woolen quilt with a homespun off white woolen blanket backing lends itself to cold days..OR...a wonderful piece of textile art for your wall.

Comprised of 144.... 6-1/4" blocks in the Fan design. Fan designs are so Victorian as is all the beautiful embellishment around each and every piece. The mark of excellence for a Victorian embellished quilt is 100 different stitches. This quilt passes that mark! The embellishment was executed with fine wool yarns.

The pieces making up the fans measure 1/2" by 2-3/4" by 1". There is a black twill tape binding with 1/4" showing in front. The fabrics are just beautiful and of fine quality. The quilt is actually 4 quilts measuring apx. 38" X 38" with each 6-1/4" block being a complete miniature Fan design repeated 144 times.

In unused condition and ready to be sent, with free shipping, for your approval.

A rarity is such an elegant Victorian Crazy Quilt that is constructed from Silk Velvet. This heavily embellished quilt is actually three dimensional in many areas.

The center medallion measuring 12" square is embellished with silk chenille threads, resulting in a three dimensional floral arrangement of Peonies in bloom, leaves, buds and stems. The background fabric is silk velvet as is the entire quilt. The borders measure 8" wide which includes a 1-1/4" silk binding. The four corner blocks measuring 7" X 7" are silk with exquisite embellishment. One corner block is embellished with Pansies, one corner block is embellished with daisies constructed from ribbons, one plain block and the forth block are embellished with a tiny delicate Marguerite flower, stems and leaves constructed from silk ribbons and silk thread.

The backing is silk and the quilt is reverse tied. Crazy Quilts are not quilted.

This is one of the very, very few quilts that I will sell that is not perfect as you will notice from the price. Once hung these imperfections are hardly noticed....What does your eye see?

This mostly silk velvet crazy quilt was created in the 1880s. It was made from nine 17" square blocks and three 10" X 17" blocks. There is an outside 4" border of silk velvet with the edge turned over 1/4" with a hand stitched finishing. There is some wear on the edge of the silk velvet which makes me think someone used it..., or that it was folded and somehow became worn on the edge.

The body of the quilt is perfect, with a minimal amount of restoration done by us. There are six Kate Greenway embroidered pieces, and also a backwards S and a cross. The Kate Greenways are absolutely adorable. Most of this crazy quilt is simple, without a lot of embellishment. The embellishing stitches are of varied colors. The colors of this quilt are warm and pleasant. Due to the wear on the corners, I am pricing this quilt at $1900.

What a wonderful piece of textile art for your home. I am happy to send this quilt, with free shipping, for your in home inspection and approval.

This very sophisticated Victorian crazy quilt was exquisitely created using a deep red silk velvet fabric as a rare or totally original design element. There is a 14-1/2 inch deep red silk velvet sash going from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Joining the goldenrod embellished sash is 7 inches of the same deep red silk velvet giving us a dramatic border.

Also totally unusual are the two triangular Crazy Quilt sections each measuring 50 X 36 X 36 inches which were created by the diagonal sash. These are comprised of 9 inch silk blocks all heavily embellished with oil paintings, lace, ribbons, gold metallic threads, trims, the initial H, the crane and more. The crane is the Japanese symbol of long life. There are ribbons..one is of a thoroughbred with a woman lovingly feeding her pet while being adoringly watched by her two dogs.

Each silk Crazy Quilt piece has the circumference embellished as well as so much of the interior. The backing is a burgundy color silk with colorful pompoms adorning the reverse ties of this quilt. To me this embellishment shows the pride the artist took in her masterpiece as this extra was usually not seen by others.

Studying quilts is also a study of sociology. The expensive fabrics along with an expensive fabric for the backing tells me that this amazing quilt was created by a member of an affluent family.

This museum quality Victorian Crazy Quilt is ready to be sent, with free shipping, for your in home approval.

If you like red, white and blue...here is an unusual cotton Victorian crazy quilt in an organized format. The creative quilt artist designed this quilt using a conventional block format with sashing, a rarity for a Victorian Crazy quilt. Created from 8 inch blocks and joined with 2-1/2 inch sashing, then connected with 2-1/2 inch squares. The fabrics are a treat to behold...with dazzling 1890's wild designs, bold plaids and very 1880's conversation prints....the fabrics in this quilt will captivate the viewer.
Completely created by hand..hand pieced and hand quilted in a 2-1/2 inch diagonal grid. The 1/4 inch binding is turned over from the back to the front. The backing fabric is a very muted tanish pink and white plaid. The batting is what I would call thick, thus producing a cuddly and graphically wonderful quilt. Perfect for warmth and perfect for your wall :-)
Appears to be unused...ready to be sent for your at-home approval.

This rare and exceptional c.1885 Victorian crazy is filled with much of the symbolism of that era. A partial list includes Japanese fans, cranes, a symbol of long life, horseshoes for good luck, owls for wisdom, a staff of wheat for life and a cross for religion. The embroidery and embelishments are outstanding. They include 3D ribbon work, gold metallic thread embellishment around the border and silk chenille work. The Victorian era symbols were so important to Victorian women: flora and fauna and the love of animals. All of these symbols are represented on this quilt. The silk velvet border measures 4” with each corner having a sophisticated 4” block. These corner blocks are usually seen on Amish Quilts, not Victorian Crazy Quilts. Most of the ribbons, chenille and threads are silk. Two sleeves have been hand sewn onto the back short ends making this quilt ready to hang.

This wool and wool challis crazy quilt is comprised of 42 12”squares. This quilt is one in a million. There are over 100 flora and fauna original oil paintings covering the entire quilt. It’s actually 42 12” square paintings combined to make up one quilt. The embroidery embellishment surrounding the piece is also beautiful. However, the oil paintings superceed the beauty of everything else. Wool challis always was and remains to be a very expensive fabric. It is a combination of wool threads woven with silk threads. It is executed with an artistic and creative vision. The backing is a 19th century pink peony floral on a brown background. Please look at the close-up photos to see some of the amazing paintings.

Happy, happy, happy :-). This is the best way I can describe this quilt top. As a result of the foundation pieceing, this quilt top doesn’t need to be quilted, only tied. The basic block is a 7” crazy quilt diamond. Then 11 plus diamonds are put together to create a strip 75” long. The next step was 14 of these strips sewn together to created this top. The foundation piecing was done by hand. The blocks and strips were then sewn by machine giving you a sturdy piece to work with. No matter what your depression era color scheme is, those colors are going to be on this quilt top. All of the fabrics on this quilt top are unused. It appears that these were scraps left over from whatever this seamstress was making. The two end rows are solid pieces of fabric instead of being pieced in a crazy quilt manner. This creates two borders for the quilt top. This top can be used in any direction. The photo shows the direction that looks (to my eye) the best when hanging. In unused ...unwashed condition...to be sent for your approval..

This Strip Pieced Cotton Crazy Quilt was executed in a formation of fifty six 9-inch blocks, pieced by hand and tied. The quilt was tied to secure the thick cotton batting inside, as this was made for warmth. Very happy daisy floral whole cloth backing in blue, white, red and pink. The quilt is reversible because of the whole cloth backing. Hand stitched 1-1/4 inch turned over binding from back to front. Professionally hand washed by Betsey and ready to use.

Silks and silk velvets were the fabrics of well to do families prior to the 1890’s. This Victorian crazy quilt, having been made in the 1880’s is comprised of wonderfully made silks and silk velvets. The mark of excellence for a v c q is 100 different stitches This quilt not only reaches this, but surpasses the level of embellishment. These quilts were created using the block formation. Created with apx 10 1/2” blocks, the edge of each block being embellished with various stitches. My feeling is that this quilt was made near the ocean as it was embellished with anchors and fish. Other Victorian symbols used include Japanese fans, as a symbol of the origin of these quilts, owls for their wisdom and of course beautifully painted oil and adorned flowers. The silk velvet border appears to have been used prior to the edging of this quilt. Because of its size, this is a wonderful quilt to hang in the home.

All silk and silk velvet, this exquisite work includes ribbon work, embroidery, silk chenille and hand paintings. The 2.5" attached hand crocheted lace border can be removed if you choose to do so. This is a complete original miniature quilt, not a fragment.

Created in individual squares, then sewn together. Original configuration. Great array of 19th century calicoes.

A fabulous concoction in jewel toned silks, this antique Crazy Quilt shimmers beautifully in the light. A myriad of silks, mostly solids with some intriguing stripes added for special interest, vary in size from 2 inches to 12 in a variety of geometric shapes. The viewer’s eye is truly focused on the gorgeous array of color and form due to the use of herringbone seam embellishment only. The expanse of solid and striped silks becomes, like pieces in a stained glass window, the focal point of this lovely work of art.

Surrounding the inner design is a 1 1/2 inch wide brick border comprised of various silks used in the interior design forming a lovely frame. The inner seam is embellished with embroidered silk stars. A 1/4 inch hand applied wine silk binding finishes the edge. The backing on this quilt is a medium blue cotton twill.

A lovely silk Crazy Quilt in a perfect size for a wall hanging in that special room. Please ask Betsey for more details and to see this quilt on approval in your home.