Anna and G on the Road: How OLD are You?

I have to say it doesn't take much to distract or entertain me. Which makes me go off on a tangent... but, most often I learn something. Spending time in Portland, Oregon for our grandson's 1st birthday and following that with a Father's Day gathering allowed us some leisure time in the city. It is funny how you can walk the same path 100s of times and not really see what is in front of your face...or home! LOL. In front of our building is a huge tree...glorious in its height and stunning in its display. This tree is like an honored citizen, and the city of Portland takes great care, even so far as to attach metal cables to support the weight of its massive branches.

Since it was a gloriously sunny day, I stopped to look up through its massiveness and saw this plaque. I was blown away by how old this tree was...planted in 1870!!! I walk by this tree several times a day without truly appreciating its display. For what ever reason, this day it whispered, "Stop and enjoy my beauty."

...Here it comes...how the quilting brain works...the first thing I thought was... "The texture of the trunk would make a fabulous fabric print." ...And then I immediately thought, "I wonder if I can find the oldest quilt on record?" Needless to say the internet is a wealth of information. Wanting to get the real info...not the fake info, I went to the Smithsonian website for information. The first quilt they have listed is a Copp Family Indigo Wool Quilt.

First of all...this website is a must read for all quilters (the National Quilt Collection at the Smithsonian)... http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object-groups/national-quilt-collection

Secondly, the date made is 1750-1800!!! Older than the tree! Plus, I no longer feel bad about how long it takes me to finish a quilt..50 years...now that was a UFO!!!

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Comments

#7 RobertaZ 2018-06-21 10:57

There's a Scythian rug or blanket fragment in the ethnographic museum in Munich. It's made of wool, embroidered on the "right" side, with a wool backing and batting, and it's quilted. About 2000 years old.

#6 Karen L. 2018-06-20 16:19

Thanks for posting that website, Anna. There are so many quilts to see and read about. I read where the quilts of one family were put in a trunk and then into commercial storage when their home was destroyed to make room for a dam. Later when the trunk was to be opened, they found the lock had been broken and all the quilts were gone except for one quilt top. Sad! So many interesting stories and historical information can be had by reading about the quilts.

#5 Linda 2018-06-20 14:41

Love Anna & G’s adventures. She such a nice perso & makes us feel like friends

#4 Ladywingnut 2018-06-20 08:46

So, I looked up the oldest quilt in the world, The Tristan quilt, from the 14th century, pretty amazing
http://m.vam.ac.uk/collections/item/O98183/the-tristan-quilt-bed-cover-unknown/

#3 Leighway 2018-06-20 07:50

I LOVE Anna and her travels with G! She's so real and down to earth and shares the loveliest thoughts and ideas....plus, she's doing so much for quilt shops in this country by showing us the different ones along her travel routes..makes me want to get in the car and Go!

#2 hatshepsut 2018-06-20 07:48

The 1718 coverlet, presently owned by the Quilters Guild of the British Isles, is having its 200th birthday. It will be on display at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK in August. I believe there may be older quilts.

#1 mpizzazz 2018-06-20 06:27

There are much older quilts outside of the US.

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