Mendofleur

Some of you inquired about Florence’s quilts, so I thought instead of going on to part II I would explain a few things about her quilts. Unfortunately, I thought I was very diligent about writing down the name of each quilt, but I missed a few. The one above, however, I did write some information down, and it is titled “Large Calico Garden” and was made in 1951. It is pieced and appliqued, and the blocks are set on point. Some of the floral appliques were inspired by flowers found in her collection of antique paper weights. This piece certainly is much more dramatic than it appears here, but I took this with my phone so the photo is certainly inferior.

This quilt I did not see at the museum exhibit, but it was one that was purchased by the Shelburne in 1952. Florence made this in 1950. The size is one of a crib quilt, 49″ x 39″, It was made from a variety of 18th- and 19th-century fabrics comprising hand-blocked and copperplate prints, chintzes, and other English and French cottons, and is an example of the colonial revival style.

For further information on this quilt please reference a book by the museum, Art of the Needle by Henry Joyce.

Tomorrow I will get back to the museum’s collection inspired by Florence as well as her method of finding some of these remarkable pieces.