This exceptional Victorian
crazy quilt is one of several antique quilts in Parsonsfield-Porter Historical
Society’s collection. When accessioning
of the History House collection was begun in 2000 no record was found of who
created it or who it belonged to. It
wasn’t until about 2007 that we discovered a 1953 newspaper clipping in one of
our scrapbooks that finally revealed that it belonged to the Society’s founder,
Ina (Stanley) Emery, and that it was made by a relative, Miss Susan Chapman. In that article Mrs. Emery stated that “the
heirloom silk quilt was made about 1878 by Miss Susan Chapman of Kezar
Falls. Miss Chapman was famous for her
needle work in those days and her craft served mostly for the smart set. Without a doubt, she kept the pieces left
from the many dresses she had made and from each made this beautiful quilt.” It is embellished with a wide range beautiful
embroidery stitching.
A quilt appraiser describes the quilt as followings.
“This Victorian Crazy Quilt has some of the finest
embellishment I have ever seen. With
single strand silk thread, the artist has created pictorial characters from the
18th century. Each person is
depicted in full attire complete with tools he or she may have used in
life. The creator of this quilt was not
only a person who excelled with the art of the needle, but she was also a
graphic artist and a master of color.
This exquisite quilt measures 71”x 84” and is comprised of silks and
silk velvets from C. 1885. The 2 5/8”
silk grosgrain ribbon is used as the sashing and border of the quilt. The
fabrics indicate that a family of affluence made the quilt. The backing is a
quilted cotton fabric manufactured for use as a backing for crazy quilts. The individual blocks measure approximately
11”x 11” and contain wonderful floral embellishments. The sashing is covered with exquisite floral
as well as pictorial embellishments. Scattered
through the quilt are Victorian symbols such as horseshoes and animals. Acting as a juncture between each set of
blocks is a square on point with the sides measuring 31/2 inches. All these blocks are hand painted depicting
flowers, fruit and birds.”
Miss Susan Chapman was born in Porter, Maine December 9,
1835, the daughter of Abraham and Susan (Mason) Chapman, one of seven
children. She lived on a farm on Spec
Pond Road that was later the home of Walter Carpenter. Susan was a dressmaker. She never married and died at the age of 84,
December 9, 1919.
Come by History House this summer and see this beautiful
quilt.
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