| American Antique Silk Quilts |
| Click on the pictures below to see more views of my Silk Antique Quilts. Shading is due to lighting, not representative of the quilt. Please call for the availability or any questions. |
| About American Antique Silk Quilts |
| Silk in the 19th century was strictly the fabric of the wealthy. Because silks of this era were manufactured for affluent buyers, they were of the highest quality and have retained their original strength, luster, brilliance, and condition today. 95% of the silk antique quilts that I have purchased for sale were made before 1890, and we do have silk antique quilts dating back to the 1840’s. Silk quilts were not made to be used, but to be displayed only as “Sunday best”. In the mid 19th century, two of the most popular silk quilt patterns were the Mosaic and the Log Cabin. As with any other quilt, condition, color, and graphics combine to make an original piece of art. After purchasing your antique silk quilt, we will be happy to assist you in proper hanging techniques. Hanging is recommended for silk quilts to take advantage of the stunning play of light reflecting from the surface of silks and silk velvets. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. CON BMI1 Silk Tumbling Blocks, with Provenance c.1875 76 x 80 (193 x 203.2 cm) NY $4,200 This is a breathtaking silk quilt created in the Tumbling Blocks pattern. The maker, whose name and family information we have, chose silk ties and dresses owned by the family for her gorgeous creation. This quilt was a Christmas gift for her son and is currently part of the family's collection of heirloom quilts. The diamond shaped silks that make up each tumbling block measure 2 ½" inches per side and are outline quilted by hand. Hand quilting is unusual in antique silk quilts of this kind - reverse tying is more common - so our maker was quite dedicated to her art. The backing is a gorgeous solid cinnamon maroon silk. Please see detail image. Entirely English pieced and with a clean, precise pillowcase edge this quilt makes for a truly sophisticated and elegant display of skillful craftsmanship and artistry. A wonderful size for hanging as art on your wall, it would be a stunning focal point for that special room. Please ask us about adding sleeves for hanging. On consignment from the descendants of the maker, provenance details will go to the buyer upon sale. This beauty is in perfect condition - please ask Betsey for more details. You may view this quilt on approval in the privacy of your home. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. CON JE1 Silk & Silk Velvet Crazy Quilt, Full Provenance with Original Family Photos Circa 1883, multiple sets of initials 73 x 74 (185.4 x 188 cm) Silk and Silk Velvet front and back Brooklyn, New York $6,300 A spectacular Silk Victorian Crazy Quilt in mint condition with family provenance including photos. On consignment to RMQ from the family this extraordinary Crazy Quilt was created circa 1883 in Brooklyn, New York by four sisters and a brother, along with their relatives and friends. The quilt is a stunning piece of work and includes oil paintings, silk embroidered pictures and motifs, appliques, metal threadwork, beadwork, sequins, 3-D flowers, and handmade bobbin lace. A beautiful and intricately worked piece of textile art. Full provenance, to be provided to the buyer upon sale, includes a 3 ring notebook compiled by the family which includes a family tree, original photos of the multiple family members and friends who created the quilt as well as a schematic of the quilt showing different symbols and their meaning, a newspaper article and obituary of the head of the family. The quilt is in pristine, perfect condition front and back. The outer deep teal blue silk velvet border measures 5 1/2 inches wide and shimmers in the light - please see first detail image. Each crazy quilt block measures approximately 10 3/4 inches square. The backing is a lovely deep cinnamon maroon silk that has green silk embellishment herringbone stitching in corner to corner and side to side cross hatched lines. The quilt has a skillfully executed pillowcase edge. This masterpiece showcases artistic skill both in oil painting and silk embroidered figures, florals, and motifs. It encompasses all we look for in textile art of this kind; wonderful artistry skillfully executed using high quality silks and silk velvets, metallic threads, beadwork, and sequins. That it comes to RMQ directly from the family of origin complete with provenance and original family photos brings it to another level. Ask to see this quilt on approval for private viewing in your home. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. CON JAW1 Silk Pineapple Log Cabin c.1920 63 x 63 (160 x 160 cm) $2,800 A stunning work of art in a wonderful size executed in c.1920's silks in the Pineapple Log Cabin pattern. A lovely collection of blue and deep lavender silks in many shade levels and patterns provide a beautiful contrast to floral patterned silks in rose, pink, ivory, and olive and leaf greens. Hand pieced logs measure 3/4" wide with lighter blue silk chimneys 1 5/8" square. The piecing is skillfully executed throughout. The backing is a soft cotton sateen in a large scale floral and lace pattern in rose, ivory and leaf green. The same fabric forms the 1 1/2" pleated edging, sandwiched between and hand stitched to the top and back layers. The effect is both elegant and sophisticated. A thin batting is between the layers which are unobtrusively tacked together. A truly lovely 20th century silk concoction in excellent condition that would be perfect displayed as art on your wall - ask us about adding sleeves for hanging. A unique beauty. Ready to send to you on approval for viewing in the privacy of your home. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Betsey's Collection Victorian Crazy Quilt Pillow Sham c.1885 27 x 27 (measurements include a 4 ¼ inch ruffle) Massachusetts $950 In perfect and original condition, this pillow sham was made by Ada Cozzins, and contains a fantastic collection of silks and silk ribbons. Every seam has been skillfully embellished with a variety of soft colors in Pearl cotton, using feather, fly, double herringbone, buttonhole, and outline stitches. The center block has been further embellished with a nosegay of rose flowers with yellow-green stems and leaves. The backing and ruffle were made from a high thread count orange polished cotton. Please note that for photographic purposes only, this sham was fastened to a white background sheet using long pins, which are visible in the photograph along the top ruffle. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8797 Silk Crazy Quilt with Brick Border c.1885 60 x 76 (152.4 x 193 cm) NY $2,900 A fabulous concoction in jewel toned silks, this antique Crazy Quilt shimmers beautifully in the light. A myriad of silks, mostly solids with some intriguing stripes added for special interest, vary in size from 2 inches to 12 in a variety of geometric shapes. The viewer’s eye is truly focused on the gorgeous array of color and form due to the use of herringbone seam embellishment only. The expanse of solid and striped silks becomes, like pieces in a stained glass window, the focal point of this lovely work of art. Surrounding the inner design is a 1 1/2 inch wide brick border comprised of various silks used in the interior design forming a lovely frame. The inner seam is embellished with embroidered silk stars. A 1/4 inch hand applied wine silk binding finishes the edge. The backing on this quilt is a medium blue cotton twill. A lovely silk Crazy Quilt in a perfect size for a wall hanging in that special room. Please ask Betsey for more details and to see this quilt on approval in your home. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8302 Silk Victorian Crazy Quilt with American Flag c.1885 38 x 54 (96.5 x 137.2 cm) New England Sold The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition was a big event in Victorian society. One of the most popular exhibits was the Japanese pavilion with its fascinating crazed ceramics and asymmetrical art. During the height of the Victorian era, homes could not have enough embellishment. Early quilts made in the crazy quilt style were show pieces, often made as lap robes or to decorate the parlor. The culture of the times was full of symbolism, poetry and romance. Crazy quilting allowed women to display their artistic abilities in needlework, oil painting, and arrangement of embellishments. Silks, silk velvets, wools and chenille fabrics, along with silk, cotton, wool and chenille threads of every color, were used to incorporate names, dates, pictures, and a wide assortment of symbols. Although crazy style quilts may appear haphazard they were carefully planned. This wonderful and patriotic Victorian crazy quilt is beautifully embellished with original oil paintings. Of primary importance is the American flag with 30 stars. Other oil paintings include a woman surrounded by daisies, a basket filled with flowers, a dog leaning over a fence, a log cabin, and a floral bouquet with “love” on the ribbon. The dense embroidered embellishment is in all different colors of cotton twist and fills the interiors of the silks as well as the seams. This exquisite and diminutive crazy quilt is comprised of c.1850’s - c.1880’s silks. The quilt has a yellow backing and is reverse tied with ribbon bows. This work of art is in fabulous condition. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8810 Silk Velvet Crazy Quilt with Deep Green Border c.1885 60 x 62 (152.4 x 157.5 cm) Found in MA SOLD A sumptuous velvet quilt in glorious rich hues of deep greens, multiple shades of burgundy and wine, dark blues, taupes, golds and grays. Comprised of solid colored silk velvets that are richly embroidered with a rainbow of gorgeous colored silk flosses in a wide array of embroidery designs. Chief among the many embroidered motifs are various shapes and colors of delicate and detailed snowflakes that bring to mind winter holidays and good cheer. The creator of this fine piece had a love for color and detailed stitches - and wasn’t afraid to show it! Extremely soft, warm and cozy this antique treasure has a 2 inch wide deep green silk velvet border that has colorful silk embellishments at each corner. The backing is a lovely paisley cotton in soft green and russet on a cream ground. A pillowcase edge provides a lovely, clean finish. This is a beautifully embroidered Victorian silk velvet Crazy Quilt that would enhance any room in your home with its warm and rich color and design. In excellent condition, this quilt can be sent to you on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8771 Victorian Silk Crazy Quilt with Burgundy Velvet Border c.1885 63 x 64 (160 x 162.6 cm) PA $1,800 A lovely example of the Victorian Silk Crazy Quilt whose design is reminiscent of a stained glass window. Each block, or window pane, measures approximately 9 ¼” x 9 ¼” and is filled with solid and patterned silks and silk velvets in clear, bright colors. Finely executed embellishment stitching in various hues of silk floss cover every seam in every possible variation of stitch design. Interior embellishment designs include rings, floral patterns, chains, fruits, and the initial “L” - we presume for the maker. This lovely quilt is designed in a 6 x 6 array of window panes which gives a nice sense of order within the crazy cutting of the silks. Framing the interior design is a lush, burgundy silk velvet border 3 ½” wide. The backing is a stunning quilted burgundy silk which is pillowcase edged by hand to the front design for an elegant finish. A beautiful, silk velvet creation that would be gorgeous as artwork on a wall or as an accent piece in any room. Remember, our quilts are always sent on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. CON LH1 Silk Log Cabin Courthouse Steps c.1880 53 x 60 (134.6 x 152.4 cm) ME or RI Sold This breathtaking silk quilt in pristine condition would take center stage on any wall! Silks and silk ribbons of every possible color have been foundation pieced in a Log Cabin Courthouse Steps pattern. Each block is approximately 6 3/8 inches and has been formed from logs measuring approximately ½ inch wide. Each hearth square is black silk velvet measuring 2 inches. A wide variety of silks in solid, moiré, faille, and ombres, with a few florals, plaids and stripes have been skillfully placed for maximum graphic impact. The wonder of silk is in the way it reflects light; and with a Courthouse Pattern, this quilt gives the illusion of pulsating color. The huge range of colors insures that whatever the surrounding color in your room, that color will be accentuated in this quilt. This quilt comes to RMQ directly from the family of the maker so some history will go to the buyer upon purchase. Backed with a black silk center and a luscious 8 inch black silk velvet border it is featherstitch embellished on the border seams and all four edges using gold silk floss. The black silk velvet is turned over from the back to the front to create a ¾ inch binding. In incredible condition, this beautiful quilt comes with two sleeves for hanging horizontally as shown. Our quilts are always sent on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8759 Victorian Silk Velvet Crazy Quilt c.1885 74 x 74 (188 x 188 cm) Chester County, PA $2,050 A gorgeous silk velvet crazy quilt in excellent condition! Both soft and warm, with an amazingly sophisticated feel, this Victorian quilt has a wonderful mix of jewel toned silk velvets which are completely hand embellished in a variation of the double coral stitch using silk floss, and top tied with multi colored silk and cotton flosses. Four main blocks filled with pieces ranging from a tiny ½ x 1 to 13 x 3 inches fill the center of the quilt. Surrounding this is a crazy pieced border approximately 7 inches wide. The backing is a cozy flannel windowpane plaid in brown, green, blue and yellow. The applied 3/8” binding is a soft blue with red stripes cotton flannel. This beautiful and very elegant piece of textile art would add a touch of warmth and vitality to any room in your home. Remember, our quilts are always sent on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8754 Victorian Silk Crazy Quilt c.1885 51 x 58 (129.5 x 147.3 cm) Lancaster County, PA SOLD What a wonderful example of Victorian Crazy quilting! It certainly has it all; beautiful silks and silk velvets outlined with every possible Victorian Crazy quilt surface stitch. Gorgeous hues in various textures, patterns and gradations on high quality silks lends and air of effervescence to this early quilt in excellent condition. Thirty carefully planned, pieced and embellished blocks are beautifully framed by a 4 ½” wide burnt orange silk border with a gorgeous sheen. The border is pillowcase edged to a superb burgundy quilted silk backing. This is a wonderful showpiece created by a talented woman well versed in the needle arts of the day. Originally created to showcase the quilter’s artistic sense and skill with a needle it would have been used as a lap robe or to decorate a parlor. A beautiful and very elegant piece of textile art that would add a touch of warmth and vitality to any room in your home. This quilt can be sent to you on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8664 Silk Log Cabin Seven Sisters c.1885 57 x 62 (144.8 x 157.5 cm) Maine Sold This breathtaking silk quilt is truly a major art piece. Silks and silk ribbons rich with saturated color have been foundation pieced in a rare miniature Log Cabin Seven Sisters pattern. Each block is approximately 3 ½ inches in diameter and has been formed from logs measuring a mere ¼ to 3/8 of an inch wide. The variety of rich hues includes wine, burgundy, blue, rose, taupe, ivory, black and peach. Each tiny hearth hexagon ranges from only ½ to ¾ of an inch per side, in shades of taupe, ivory and black. One of the wonders of silk is the way it reflects light. The multitude of tiny pieces stitched in this diminutive Log Cabin Seven Sisters pattern pulsate with vibrant color. The quilt is backed with a large scale rose and cream floral print fabric and finished with an applied black silk ¼ inch binding. Our quilts are always sent on approval. Please ask Betsey for more details. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8650 Victorian Windowpane Crazy Quilt Dated Feb 5, 1888 54 x 62 (137.2 x 157.5 cm) Cape Cod, MA SOLD An elegant Windowpane Crazy Quilt in excellent condition! Dated Feb 5, 1888 this sophisticated quilt has a gorgeous 1 ¼” black silk velvet sashing separating the 7 ½” crazy blocks that brings a sense of order and refinement to this piece. It is comprised entirely of silk and silk velvets in solids, taffetas, and sateens, with ribbons and brocades in multiple and intricate patterns. Lovely silk embellishments within each block and surrounding the windowpanes completes this special quilt. Gold silk pom-poms are used for the unique front ties and add a further bit of flair to this showy piece of textile art. A four inch black border in the same silk velvet as used for the sashing frames the multi paned “window” and a half inch ivory ribbed silk binding surrounds the whole. As you might expect in a piece of this quality, it has been backed with a stunning quilted celadon green silk fabric. This beautiful and very elegant piece of textile art would add a touch of warmth and vitality to any room in your home. Quilts are always sent on approval. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q6832 Silk Center Medallion Mosaic c.1855 66 x 80 (167.6 x 203.2 cm) Pennsylvania $2,400 Nothing sparkles light like silk, and this beautiful quilt would be a truly stunning piece of art for your wall or bed. In unused condition, a wide variety of silks in blues, fuschia, browns and black stripes, checks, plaids, solids, and solid failles have been hand pieced into a center medallion mosaic configuration. Each hexagon measures 1 ¾ inches across, and has been hand outline quilted. The 3 ¾ inch border is a rich green and black plaid reminiscent of a Scottish Black Watch tartan, and has been quilted with a diagonal basket weave motif. The separately applied black wool challis binding is a ½ inch wide, and the backing is a lovely olive brown and rose leaf print silk. A quilt such as this one was a mark of excellence for a woman of affluence, as only a very prosperous family could afford such fabrics. What an amazing piece of art! Please ask Betsey for more information. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8189 Silk Velvet Bars 1885 44 x 60 (111.8 x 152.4 cm) Illinois $1,900 This is a very sumptuous quilt; created from plush, deep toned mauve, pink, green, blue, gold and black silk velvets. The way light plays across the surface of antique silk velvet is truly amazing, and next to impossible to convey through two dimensional photographs. In unused condition, this quilt has been foundation pieced by hand and reverse tied. The binding is gray silk velvet, and the backing is a lovely 1880’s mauve print. What a beautiful piece of art! |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Fragment Victorian Pieced Fan c. 1880 11 x 11 1/4 northeast $125 This is a great little piece of Victorian decoration! A single fan block created entirely from perfectly coordinated silk and silk velvet, and embellished with pale shades of silk twist. Bound with black same date silk, and backed with a lovely floral cotton print, this quilt fragment is in pristine condition and ready for your home! |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8368 Silk Geometric Runner c. 1880 12 x 43 Kopak, NY $950 This fabulous silk table runner seems to have started out as an ambitious miniature log cabin creation with blue and cream double herringbone embellishment, but after only six little blocks, it turns into a more straightforward arrangement of squares with a majority of cream colored double herringbone. It certainly invites speculation on its construction, and adds to the fun of this fun and sophisticated piece. Plus who could resist stroking the ultra soft silk velvet dangles on the ends? This little quilt has been backed with a deep burnished gold silk backing. In completely original condition, this runner does have some minor water damage in a few of the middle squares, but will be inconspicuous when viewed as a table runner. Please ask Betsey for more information. |
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Rocky Mountain Quilts
Shop Hours |
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Payment Methods: Rocky Mountain Quilts gladly accepts cash, checks, Visa, Master Card and American Express. Bank wire transfers are an easy method of payment for both domestic and international sales. If you are traveling, we will be happy to ship your purchases via FedEx at your convenience. |
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| Contact Us | ||
| Telephone - for orders or questions - 1-800-762-5940 or 1-207-363-6800 Email - betsey@rockymountainquilts.com Shipping FedEx address - 130 York Street York Village, Maine 03909 |
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| Link To Top Of Quilts |