For the first time in more than 10 years, antique quilts from the Old Sturbridge Village collection are out of storage and on display to the public in a newly opened exhibit, More Beautiful Than Any Other: Quilts from the Old Sturbridge Village Collection. Rare quilts from all over New England are featured, along with a variety of period quilted garments, including petticoats, hoods, coats, and period sewing tools and accessories.
The oldest quilt on display in the Old Sturbridge Village exhibit is a 1793 wholecloth wool quilt from the family of Elizabeth Mather of Sandisfield, Mass. At the time this quilt was made, the practice of displaying beautiful, high quality quilts demonstrated the owner’s wealth and taste. Quilts adorned beds in the best room of the house -- a room that was used for dining and entertaining as well as for sleeping.
Quilted with an allover floral vine (rococo style) with leaves and cross-hatched flowers, the quilt features a pineapple motif at center bottom. The handwritten label attached to the quilt reads, "Made by Miss Elizabeth Mather at Sandisfield Mass. in 1793. Was married to Constant Bosworth Jr. 1795 and died in Lowville NY 1811. It was then left to her daughter Elizabeth (Betsey) Bosworth who died in Cambridge Penn aged 74. Then left to her niece Elizabeth Mather Read-Spencer born in Lowville NY 1823 died in Oshkosh March 29 1908. Then to her great granddaughter Jessie Elizabeth Strand-Peck born in Oshkosh in 1861. Then to her great great granddaughter Frances Elizabeth Peck born in Chicago Ill 1894." Along the side is written "Descendent of Cotton Mather. Constant Bosworth Jr. born 1769 died 1859."
The exhibit is free with museum admission, and will be open through June, 2011. However, since the fragile quilts can be displayed only for a limited time, a new group of the museum’s antique quilts will replace those currently on exhibit in February, 2011. The overall Old Sturbridge Villager artifact collection of more than 60,000 artifacts. The museum celebrates New England life from 1790 – 1840, and is one of the oldest and largest living history museums in the country, with 59 antiques buildings, three water-powered mills and a working farm. The museum is open year round, but hours change seasonally. For details: www.osv.org ; 1-800-733-1830.
