Ida Belle Merryman and Eleanora M. Merryman
Crazy Quilt with Christmas Bookmark
1884-1894
Scroll
Physical Qualities
Silk, cotton foundation fabric, silk and metallic embroidery threads, silk ribbon, 78 x 70 1/2 in. (198.1 x 179.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Merry Gladding Highby, Baltimore, MD.
Object Number
2010.20
Crazy quilts of the 1880 to 1890 period were often created with irregular pieces of rich fabric and were copiously decorated. Many crazy quilts included personal souvenirs of the makers, which may explain the presence of the ornate black ribbon bookmark including the message “MAY YOU HAVE a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and many of them” as well as the smaller gold silk ribbon with the word “Washington” at the top and a heraldic design related to Baltimore. The influence of Japanese art common to most crazy quilts is found in the irregular piecework, as well as in designs such as fans, pitchers, butterflies, spiders, and spider webs. Outline embroidery, ribbon work, appliquéd and embroidered animals and floral designs, and elaborate stitches over seams speak to the makers’ desire to display their needlework skills.
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 2010; Merry Gladding Highby, Baltimore, MD by descent; Merryman family by descent; Ida Belle Merryman (1867-1921) and Eleanore M. Merryman (1870-1953).
New Arrivals: Gifts of Art for a New Century
Peggy McMorris, Crazy Quilts, New York: E. P. Dutton, 1984, p. 88, p. 91.
Roderick Kiracofe, The American Quilt: A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950, N.Y.: Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1993..
Virginia Gunn, 'Crazy Quilts and Outline Quilts: Popular Responses to the Decorative Art/Art Needlework Movement, 1876-1893," Uncoverings 1984, Sally Garoutte (ed.), Mill Valley, CA.: American Quilt Study Group, 1985, pp. 131-152.
Amelia Peck, American Quilts & Coverlets in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dutton Studio Books, 1990, pp. 94-97,
p. 191, . 208.
Carleton L. Safford and Robert Bishop, America's Quilts and Coverlets, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1972, pp. 296-303.
Carter Houck, The Quilt Encyclopedia Illustrated, N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991, pp. 179-178.
Brick, Cindy. Crazy Quilts: History, Techniques, Embroidery Motifs. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press,2008.
Godden, Geoffrey A.. Stevengraphs and other Victorian Silk Pictures, London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1971, p. 379 No. 573 Tthis bookmark listed in alphabetical order. No information.)
Roderick Kiracofe, The American Quilt: A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950, N.Y.: Clarkson Potter Publishers, 1993..
Virginia Gunn, 'Crazy Quilts and Outline Quilts: Popular Responses to the Decorative Art/Art Needlework Movement, 1876-1893," Uncoverings 1984, Sally Garoutte (ed.), Mill Valley, CA.: American Quilt Study Group, 1985, pp. 131-152.
Amelia Peck, American Quilts & Coverlets in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dutton Studio Books, 1990, pp. 94-97,
p. 191, . 208.
Carleton L. Safford and Robert Bishop, America's Quilts and Coverlets, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1972, pp. 296-303.
Carter Houck, The Quilt Encyclopedia Illustrated, N.Y.: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991, pp. 179-178.
Brick, Cindy. Crazy Quilts: History, Techniques, Embroidery Motifs. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press,2008.
Godden, Geoffrey A.. Stevengraphs and other Victorian Silk Pictures, London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1971, p. 379 No. 573 Tthis bookmark listed in alphabetical order. No information.)
Inscribed: Woven on ribbon in multi-colored silks using various fonts with shadowing: "MAY/ YOU HAVE/a/HAPPY CHRISTMAS/and many/of them" Printed on gold ribbon with design similar to that of the Maryland flag: "Washington"
