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Posted by John on August 9, 2008, 6:15 am
> You're right, simple is elegant! Wish the colors showed better on my
> screen. How was the original quilted? (Or maybe you can't tell from
> the photo.)
> Roberta in D
>
> On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 13:12:49 -0700 (PDT), John
>
> >Here is an American Shaker quilt top that is a reproduction of a quilt
> >I have pictured in one of my reference books on Shaker life. I just
> >finished piecing it today and will start pining the sandwich together
> >tomorrow. It represents the period of the 1850's and is considered the
> >Classic period of their efforts at constructing items for themselves.
> >The colors are Umber and a very pale Yellow for the 9 patch and a
> >slightly darker pale Yellow for the sashing. I think this shows why
> >their design ideas have endured into the modern age. This would be at
> >home in a totally modern setting or a period room. They chose to
> >simplify their designs to make the focus on the simplicity of their
> >lifestyle without having to resort to cluttered elements to make a
> >bold statement. The later period of Shaker life tended to let elements
> >of the outside world creep into their designs and therefore are viewed
> >to be somewhat corrupted. Still lovely, but more cluttered and less
> >simple and pure, if you will. I am making this one for myself and then
> >another one for a gift to a relative.
>
> >http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2640232170100692635fNjPir
>
> >Enjoy,
>
> >John
I saw the original in one of the Shaker villages in the Northeast on a
tour I took a number of years ago, when I was heavily involved in
Shaker furniture reproduction. The binding was the same Umber color as
the dark patches and the stitching was hand done in-the -ditch. The
palest color of yellow was probably much faded to an almost creamy
white. My cheap Digital camera, which is 2 megapixels doesn't
reproduce colors too well, so I am somewhat handicapped, in that
regard. In an interesting side note on Shaker quilting. Aside from
Child's crib quilts,(The Shakers were one of the largest Orphanage
operations in pre welfare state American society, the foundlings were
a source for new converts to the faith), the two most common quilts
they made, were the lap quilt and the single bed quilt. Being a
Celibate Society as part of their dogma, they had no need for double
beds. Even whole families that converted were separated as to sexes,
and the men slept apart from the women. The Religion relied on
conversion for new members. With no new children resulting from
existing members unions, that is why you never see a double bed sized
quilt of Shaker provenance, unless it was done for outside the Society
usage or a gift. Even though they originated in England, they were a
totally American group and never established any parts of the
organization outside of the US. They were a fascinating group of folks
with a dedication to excellence in everything they did. The nature of
their faith, made it virtually impossible for them to continue in the
larger society, in any great numbers, because of their insistence on
sexual abstinence as part of their faith. They faded from the scene,
but the objects they produced live on long after them, as a tribute to
the excellence of their design style. There are still a few old women
of the faith living in the last settlement at Sabathday Lake Maine,
but that is all of the original membership left. Even that is not long
for this world, due to their advanced age and lack of enough converts
to sustain there organaization.
John
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