Some Great Textiles

Concentric Square Quilt USA
circa 1940,
Graphic Concentric Square Quilt,
Hand-stitched black, yellow and gray African American quilt made of rayon.
Via 1st dibs and Just Folk
(Click image for larger view)NEW ENGLAND HOOKED RUG WITH RECLINING DOG American
ca. 1860-1880
Hooked rug with a dog in the center surrounded by a red floral border. Made in New England, wool construction, probably Massachusetts. A great early example, nicely executed, with strong colors. Wool construction.
Via 1st dibs and Jeff R. Bridgeman Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Pine Burr Quilt

American
1920’s
Exceptional African American Pine Burr quilt. All hand quilted and pieced. Found in Selma, Alabama. Fantastic color placement and design. These quilts were made with leftover fabric and clothing. These quilts are very labor intensive and would take many years to finish. A simple frame is needed for this quilt to hang on the wall. We do not have it attached to a frame in the image. Framed it will hang appropriately on the wall. This quilt makes a very dynamic wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above) Detail of Pine Burr Quilt. (Click image for larger view)

African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt

American
1940’s
Very bold African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt. Made from discarded work shirts by Eunice Taylor, Winston County, Alabama(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Abstract Quilt. Attributed to Gees Bend, AL

American
1940’s
Attributed to Lucy Mooney Gees Bend, Alabama, Circa 1930-40. The backing is made from 100 pound welfare sacks issued by the US Government, and says: “The Department of Welfare...Donated by the people of the United State of America - Not to be sold or exchanged.” This quilt is an amazing abstract wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Memorial Work Clothes Quilt

American
1930’s
African American made double sided Memorial Quilt. Wonderful abstract wall hanging. Constructed from the work clothes of a loved one that had passed on. Also some strips of vintage ticking. Made by Annie Rogers, Creedmoor, N.C.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Gees Bend African American Concentric Squares Quilt

American
1940’s
Gees Bend, AL African American Quilt made by Clementine Kennedy (1904-1974). Concentric squares or housetop variation.
Via 1st dibs, Urban Country Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Yo Yo Rug

United States
circa 1930
A painstakingly executed graphic textile in beautiful colors, this “yo-yo” mat reflects the light in subtle ways to create an astonishing wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)


IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A NEW COLLECTING AREA, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER high-quality American textiles, such as quilts or hooked rugs. For example, African American quilts are often characterized by their freedom from the traditional rules of quilt making. Often made from hand-me-downs and scraps of fabric, these quilts are often pieced as things fit—or by following a vaguely defined and always changeable design. Abstraction is the word that best defines them—beautifully balanced in a way that allows chance to play a role in the design. But if you like tradition—there are plenty of other quilts and hooked rugs to fill that need. Either area you wish to collect in, there are still opportunities to find nice examples for under $500. As for the rarest and most collectible examples in an category, the sky is the limit for cost.

All examples via 1st Dibs.

New Math

(Above) Primitive general store nut and bolt bin with 87 drawers; c. 1900.
(Above) Hand hooked and mounted rug (shirred), found in Pennsylvania; dated 1916.


(Above) Early 20th century folky 1915 banner weathervane.


(Above) Metal 7-Up advertising sign, 1950s.

(Above) Early 20th century circus banner, 7’ 11” tall x 9’ 2” wide.

(Above) Hand pieced and hand sewn early 20th century Amish mounted crazy quilt sham, 1914.

(Above) Primitive, over sized game board, c. 1940.


NUMBERS FASCINATE ME, ALTHOUGH I WAS ALWAYS TERRIBLE AT MATH. So, whenever I see numbers incorporated into a work of art, or on an object, I take an extra look. These numerical things were found on 1st Dibs.

If These Textiles Had Been Paintings...

(Above) Early American 20th Century Modern Geometric Quilt
1930-1940
A cotton quilt made in geometric shapes which lends a very contemporary feel. All of the fabrics are cotton, including the back which is in a navy tiny floral print with a rod pocket. The quilt has rounded corners, and is banded in a deep red cotton.

Owned by Suzanna Hamilton Antiques & Art, LLC; 4355 Cobb Parkway, Suite J-253, Atlanta, GA 30339

(Above) 19th Century American Mounted Red/Blue Calico Fabric Bars Crib Quilt
1880-1890
Handsewn on stretcher

Owned by east meets west antiques, 160 North La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036

(Above) Antique American Geometric Hooked Rug
Early 20th Century
Bold, graphic geometric with vivid colors in “Log Cabin” inspired design. Mounted on stretcher.

Owned by Woodard and Greenstein, 506 E 74th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10021 —


IF THESE RUGS HAD BEEN PAINTINGS, considering the period in which they were made, they would have been hailed as breakthroughs in modern art. But, hooked rugs, quilts and textiles were considered craft and, for the most part, kept apart from the big museums.

African American quilts, on the other hand, shared the same story, until Mr. Bill Arnett and his family in Atlanta brought to the public eye the incredible quilts of Gee’s Bend. That singular effort changed art history, the way we view African American textiles and more importantly, clearly showed that the quilts of this rural Alabama community (and others) were far more than craft. More on that in another post.

These wonderful textiles were found on 1stdibs.