Antique Victorian Crazy Quilt with Unique Embroidery | c. 1890s | Folk Art | 55” x 66”

This extraordinary antique Victorian crazy quilt dates to the late 19th century, circa 1890s, and is a wonderful example of true crazy quilting from the height of the Victorian fancywork era. Made entirely by hand and bound with fringe on all four sides, this quilt was created as a decorative parlor or display textile, rather than a utilitarian bed covering.

The quilt is pieced from an exceptional assortment of silk taffetas, satins, silk velvet, and fine wool fabrics, many of which originated as dress silks. The irregular “crazy” construction is richly embellished with extensive hand embroidery, including feather stitch, herringbone, cross-stitch, spiderweb motifs, laid thread work, and other decorative seam treatments typical of late-19th-century needlework.

Panels feature fans and whimsical and unique pictorial embroidery, including children, animals, florals, and symbolic motifs—hallmarks of Victorian-era crazy quilts made as conversation pieces for the parlor.

The back is brown cotton while the quilt has been bound by fringe on all four sides. Like most crazy quilts, this one has no batting.

The quilt is in very good antique condition with expected wear for an authentic silk and satin crazy quilt over 125 years old. There are areas of silk shattering, thinning, and fabric loss, particularly in some embroidered panels. These condition issues are consistent with the materials and age, most notably the silks are shattered due to the addition by manufacturers in the late 1800s of metal salts to silk in order to increase its weight (and price since it was sold by the pound).

Details:
• Date: circa 1890s
• Construction: Hand pieced and hand embroidered
• Materials: Silk, velvet, wool, mixed textiles
• Finish: Fringe on all four sides
• Size: 55” x 66”
• Condition: Antique condition with visible wear, fabric loss, and silk shattering consistent with age

This quilt comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home.
CQ0004