Quilt

Object Name:

Quilt

Object ID:

2007.034

Place of Origin:

Newmarket, NH

Date:

circa 1910

Description:

Quilt. Signature; c. 1910, presented to Frank H. Durgin (1863-1920), president of the Newmarket National Bank and a member of the NH state legislature. Bluework signatures embroidered on white cotton. White cotton backing, with 2.5" wide hand-crocheted trim sewn around edge. 10" blocks arranged in an 8 x 9 array. Each block is divided into 11 sections for signatures. Names of Newmarket bank employees, family, friends, businessmen, and their families are hand-stitched in a variety of fonts using blue cotton floss, worked in outline/stem, satin, and backstitching. The blocks are joined together by hand with feather/fly stitching. Quilt is stuffed with cotton batting and tacked with satin and backstitching.

Presentation quilt, with signatures embroidered generally in outline stitch with blue thread (probably mercerized cotton) on plain white cotton. The quilt is constructed of 72 blocks, each approximately 10 inches square. The blocks are divided into 11 sections for signatures in a design similar to a diamond in a square. The seams between blocks are covered with feather stitching. The quilt is backed with plain white cotton muslin. The knife edge finish is trimmed with a gathered ruffle of linen torchon lace (not crochet as stated above), which is an inexpensive type of bobbin lace that is commonly machine-made, as in this case. The cotton batting has shifted and clumped because there are an inadequate number of ties. The ties occur only at the corners of the blocks. Most of the signatures are embroidered in outline stitch, but several are more fancy and are worked in gothic and other stylized lettering with satin stitches. One block includes the signature of New Hampshire governor, the "Hon. Henry B. Quinby."

Material:

Textile
Cotton
Satin

Dimensions:

W-82.5 L-96 inches

Provenance:

Gift to Frank H. Durgin of Newmarket in 1910 from friends and people of Newmarket. Passed to Mrs. Durgin, then to her son Elmer Slater Durgin, then to donor, Alice Durgin Miller (1928-2008), granddaughter of Frank H. Durgin. Delivered by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Durgin.

Credit Line:

Gift of Alice Durgin Miller

People:

Durgin, Frank H. (1863-1920)

Subjects:

Friendship, Quilting, Quilts