01.27.08
(1850’s American) Japanese Fan Quilt
I bought this quilt top from an antique shop in Okanogan, WA about a year ago. It was an intense experience; the proprietor had been hanging on to this quilt for decades and she cried when I bought it. She might have been an extraordinary salesperson or an extraordinary actor, but she said not everything in her shop was for sale (very French, non?) and she told me she only sold it to me because of my reaction when I saw it–it was immediate, fervent love upon first sight. I’ll be sending these pictures to her, since I promised I would when I found a place to hang it.
A little history: these early fan quilts are silk scraps on a black silk background and were influenced by Japanese design when Japan opened for trade with the West in 1854. Mine is is fairly good shape, although the silk is quite fragile by now. (And though it looks like there’s a bright light on it in the first pic, never fear–there is a window above it, but the light doesn’t shine directly onto the fabric.)
Mary Emma Allen said,
January 28, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Beautiful quilt. Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous Fan Quilts said,
January 28, 2008 at 6:29 pm
[...] more modern innovative fan patterns, I discovered an intriguing fan quilt at Island Ashley, (1850’s American) Japanese Fan Quilt with three breathtaking [...]
islandashley said,
January 29, 2008 at 11:07 am
Thanks, Mary Emma. My pleasure!
Twigs said,
October 11, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Hi, I ran across your blog and saw a few familiar places…V.G. where I teach, my son’s fruitstand, and then the beautiful quilt. Try as I might I can’t place who you are but I imagine you graduated close to Rich or maybe even Dennis (fruistand). I love B.I. but don’t know if I could deal with the rainy weather.
Janice Carlton
islandashley said,
October 12, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Hi Janice, I lived in Okanogan only 3 three years, so that’s probably why you can’t place me. I love many things about Okanogan, and V.G. is a great place to teach! My girls are still homesick for it.
Acquiring more stuff, nearly (guilt)-free « Island Ashley said,
June 27, 2009 at 10:50 pm
[...] old silk quilt (it’s beautiful, naturlich, and reminded me of my other one. Two makes me a collector of old silk quilts, I guess). I came in with the top bid of $65. [...]