1876 World's Fair inspired crazy quilt
Q. This is a photo of a handmade quilt that I have. It was made with geometric shaped pieces of velvet in a variety of colors and has a velvet border. Each piece is decorated with embroidered designs. It is signed on the back with the name and date "L.T. Barnara - 1887." There is some fraying on the back. I would like to know if the design might have a connection to the World's Fair.
That is all the information I can provide, and I hope you can tell me more about my quilt.
A. You have a crazy quilt. The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition (World's Fair) featured the very popular English embroidery and Japanese art exhibits. The beautiful English embroidery and Japanese crackle designs inspired Victorian women to create quilts with random shapes. Because of the irregular, random shapes, they became known as "crazy quilts." They used velvet and silk pieces of fabric to make asymmetrical designs arranged in abstract forms. The quilts were used to showcase their many decorative embroidery stitches that included flowers, animals, houses and verses. Most quilts measure around 72 inches by 72 inches. The quilts were usually decorative objects shown off in parlors or lap robes. It wasn't long before there were "crazy tea parties" and quilts used as fundraisers. Around 1910, the craze faded.
Depending on the size and condition, crazy quilts sell in antiques shops for anywhere from $100 to $300.
Q. I have enclosed a copy of the blurry mark that is on the back of a porcelain plate that I have. A family gave the plate to my mother to pass on to me when I grew up. By the time I received it, the family friend had passed away. It is hard to read the mark, and only the word "Germany" is visible. They plate is about 8 inches in diameter and is decorated with pink and red roses, small white flowers and green leaves. The edge is scalloped, and the background is cream-colored. It is in perfect condition.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could give me some information on my plate.
A. The mark is a shield shape with the word "Weimar" across it. This mark was used by the C. and E. Carstens Porcelain Factory located in Blankenhain, Germany. They have made porcelain from 1918 to the present. The shield represents the shield of the Weimar dukes of Germany.
Your circa 1918 plate would probably be worth $20 to $30.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
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