| Silk Antique 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 Silk Antique 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. Q8837 Turquoise Silk Velvet Crazy Quilt c.1885 54 x 96 MA $5,900 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. Many historians believe the origin of the Victorian Crazy Quilt was inspired by the majestic Japanese screens seen for the first time at the exposition. During the height of the Victorian era, homes seemingly could never have enough embellishment. Early quilts made in the crazy quilt style were show pieces, often made to decorate the parlor. The culture of the times was full of symbolism, poetry and romance. Crazy quilts 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, gold metallic 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 gorgeous example has a magnificent border of hand painted flowers on turquoise silk velvet (see detail image). The dense embroidered embellishment is in all different colors of silk twist and fills the interiors of the silks as well as the seams. This exquisite crazy quilt is comprised of c.1870’s - c.1880’s silks and silk velvet. This stunning showpiece is in amazing condition and can be shipped to your home on approval for private viewing in your home. |
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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 NY $3,600 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 New England $4,300 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. CON ND 1 Silk Mosaic c.1885 54 x 54 Massachusetts $4,900 What an incredible array of jewel toned silks dating from c.1850 to the 1880’s. There is nothing that reflects light quite like silk. As a result this beautiful, diminutive quilt would be a truly lovely piece of art for your wall. It is pieced in the very desirable mosaic pattern and is simply stunning. In excellent condition, this quilt uses a wide variety of silks in blues, magentas, greens, golds, pinks and black in solids, stripes, checks, plaids, and silk velvets. They have been hand pieced into a very graphic and successful rendition of this popular pattern. Each hexagon measures just 1 inch across. Backed in black cotton with a black silk hand applied 3/8 inch wide binding. 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! It would be a stunning focal point for any room in your home. As always, this quilt can be sent to you on approval for viewing in your home. |
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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 Found in MA $3,600 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 PA $2,200 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 ME or RI $4,700 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. CON LH2 Silk Tumbling Blocks c.1880 56 x 71 ME or RI $4,500 Stunning! Tumbling Blocks is a wonderfully graphic quilt pattern when completed by a highly skilled quilter with a practiced eye for color and a large fabric collection. This fabulous silk quilt meets all three criteria; a wide variety of circa 1880 fabrics skillfully pieced to their best graphic advantage. Jewel toned silks abound in this masterpiece and include mostly solids, with some ombre silks, plaids, stripes and floral ribbons, all in excellent condition. This quilt comes to RMQ directly from the family of the maker so some history will go to the buyer upon purchase. Each diamond is 2 1/8 inches per side and has been expertly pieced to show this fabulous pattern at its best. The backing is a solid black cotton with a ¼ inch applied black silk binding framing the design beautifully. Reverse tied with black silk floss. In pristine condition this quilt would be spectacular hung on a wall as graphic art and contains the two sleeves necessary to do it! Please ask Betsey for more details on this beautiful quilt. |
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Please view the detail photos (click image above) for more accurate colors. Q8755 Silk Log Cabin Courthouse Steps c.1880 70 x 70 Chester County, PA $7,800 This is a breathtaking silk quilt created in the Log Cabin Courthouse Steps pattern. Silks and silk ribbons rich with saturated color have been foundation pieced using logs a mere 5/16” to 3/8” wide. Each 6 ¾” log cabin block contains 32 logs surrounding a 5/8” silk velvet chimney. Just an extraordinary quilt in pristine condition. The variety of rich hues includes multiple shades of wine, burgundy, blue, rose, burnt orange, mustard, brown, taupe, ivory, black and peach. Comprised mostly of solid colored silks there are a few silk brocades and striped silks to add extra sparkle to an already shimmering piece of textile art. Surrounding the inner blocks is a 3 ¼” solid burgundy silk border. The quilt is backed with a gorgeous and vibrant cobalt blue silk which was hand quilted in a large cross hatch pattern before being applied as the backing. Quilting on the front of the quilt is exclusively in the border using parallel lines and was also done by hand before backing the quilt. A one inch black silk velvet binding frames both the front courthouse steps design and the back’s solid cobalt blue beautifully. Just a wonderful example of good design, workmanship, and quality fabrics coming together to create a gorgeous piece of art. This quilt is in excellent and totally original condition and would be stunning as artwork on your wall. We photographed it hung in two directions - click on above image to see the detail page. This piece can be sent to you 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 Chester County, PA $2,500 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 Lancaster County, PA $4,900 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 Maine $5,900 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 Maine or New Hampshire $2800 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 Pennsylvania $2,900 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 Illinois $2,300 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 $150 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 $1,200 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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