Hexagonal silk block pieced over paper cut from a letter with the date 1864.
A letter from Becky to her Aunty, Miss Phillips in Philadelphia
concerning a similar project in process.
"Sister and myself were very much obliged to you for the numerous pieces of silk you sent us. They are beautiful and very acceptable as my pieces of silk had almost entirely given out. And I am very anxious to finish my quilt if possible before I leave here."
These silk extravaganzas sometimes took years to make.
This one has papers dated 1857 to 1864.
Becky sent the letter from West Chester, Pennsylvania were she was vacationing with her family, perhaps having left the city during the summer sickly season when Philadelphia was prone to mosquitos and yellow fever epidemics. We have to imagine what kind of a silk quilt she was working on.
Border of an unfinished top with papers dated 1864
I saved the photos of the letter from an online auction
And the silk quilts too.
1857-64 papers
No last name for Becky or first name for Aunty Phillips and no
date in the letter or in the postmark other than Sep 13.
But the stamp offers some information. It was used in 1861 and 1862.
1022 Spruce Street today
This row house wasn't there in 1860. Miss Phillips
must have lived in an older house now gone
Water Street at Spruce in the 1850s
Illinois State Museum Collection
Papers dating 1859 to 1864. It was likely difficult to
get silk scraps during the Civil War but stitchers persevered.
Papers 1864
Let's hope those girls got that quilt done before
they went back to Philadelphia in the fall.
A well-worn quilt that was a long-term project:
"Ette Wilson
Begun 1864"
"Finish 1906"
What I can see of the letter:
"Miss Phillips
No 1022 Spruce
Philadelphia
West Chester
Sept 13th
Dear Aunty
Mother was afraid you might be worried at the non-appearance of Buzzy, so she thought I had better write a few lines and tell you that he had concluded to stay [] until Monday when ....
find but two. She thinks he may possibly have left the {word missing] at your house. If he has will you give it to Catherine so as mother can get it when we come home...
Sister and myself were very much obliged to you for the numerous pieces of silk you sent us. They are beautiful and very acceptable as my pieces of silk had almost entirely given out. And I am very anxious to finish my quilt if possible before I leave here.
We are all well and send much love.
Affectionately, Becky"
1 comment:
Wow! The silk certainly uplifts those quilts - the sheen gives them such a depth of colour but also brightness. The tumbling blocks are most beautiful. Thank you.
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