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This is really interesting to hear the responses - I love to hear all these stories - I hope others will chime in with stories of their own. Thank you to all who responded. I don't know if she will open the seam to see - she doesn't want to open the seam - I just told her I would ask and see if this is something that may have occurred in the past.
Jan, what condition is this 1790 quilt in?
Every Sunrise brings a blessing
My family went to pick up this quilt from a very aged family member I'd never met when I was about 9 years old. I didn't see it again until my father (it was in his family) mailed it to me in TX decades later because I was the quilter in the family.Originally Posted by Marilynsue
I was shocked when I opened it one thew floor in the living room because it appeared there were little cock roaches in it! But that turned out to be chips of the chintz fabrics that had been dyed brown and set with iron mordants....they were "rusting" to pieces. It was incredibly fragile in the chintz, but the applique and the linen were in perfect condition.
Colonial Williamsburg has it in climate-controlled storage for a research item; it's too fragile to show. I even had to allow them to handle it, instead of me, when I last saw it 3-4 years ago to photograph it and match fabrics to reproduce it.
They keep it because of its extreme age and the written provenance. They told me it was "at least 1780 or earlier". There is only one other similar quilt in their collection, in better shape, but they know nothing about it at all.
I am SO thankful my father, who at first wanted to sell it, sent to me for study and safe keeping!Knowing about this quilt, the Dabney side of our family, and being able to research that it passed through the female line (Daddy was the only male to have it by default for a while) has changed who I am.
Jan in VA
Jan in VA
Living in the foothills
peacefully colors my world.
My mother told me always put a coin in a purse or handbag which you are gifting, as it will ensure many more will follow, and the recipient will never be poor. Perhaps your coin was placed for the same purpose, especially if the quilt was a gift.
That's the only thing I know about pennies being put in something...other than a purse or piggy bank!
Jan, love reading about your family history and interesting quilts.
"A woman is like a tea bag-you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt
My mother told me if you put a penny in the hem of a quilt it means you'll have good luck and never be broke
... also when giving a gift of scissors or a knife, place a coin with it for good luck (??)....another ol' wives tale?
cpfrog - "Those who sew together, grow together." - Amy Dickinson
tradition in our family was that you never "gave" someone a blade, lest it be unlucky. even when i got my first pocket knife from my dad when i was 11, i had to "pay" him a penny, so it would be an "honest" blade. the tradition goes on--a gift of cutlery of any kind "needs" to be paid for, and often, a penny is included so the giver can be paid.
"life is a banquet, and most poor fools are out there, starving to death!"--"auntie mame"
Yes, I received a knife from a Doctor as a gift and there was a penny taped to the knife, I found out I was suppose to give the penny back to this doctor so I would never cut myself with the knife.
Suzanne
Asking a seamstress to mend is like asking Picasso to paint your garage.
I would be worried about it wearing a hole in the quilt like QuiltnNan mentioned. Is it padded???
A Good Friend, like an old quilt, is both a Treasure and a Comfort
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