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Baltimore Album Quilts
elegant applique
Once upon a time (in the early mid-1800's) Baltimore, Maryland was the third largest city in the United States and had some mighty fine needlewomen in the population. Many of these women were active in the Methodist church and two of them, Mary Evans Ford and Achsah Goodwin Wilkins, were the best stitchers of the lot. Today we aren't quite sure just how it came about, but these women (and probably many others, especially in their church group, made some of the most spectacular applique quilts the world had ever seen.
The quilts were based on block designs, but not patchwork -- they were appliqued with many, many tiny pieces of new fabrics to form flowers, leaves, fruit, cornucopia, elaborately twined baskets and other symbols of goodwill, joy and fertility. Sometimes boats, local emblems and symbols of Baltimore political or social significance were included.
They were "Special" -- they might be gifts for a bride (or a groom) or a gift to the minister or the minister's wife from the church, the mayor from the town or a favorite teacher at school on retirement. Album quilts might not all be as elegant as the Baltimores, but they were an honor to receive and may be seen today sin museums in categories such as: Presentation Quilts, Bride Quilts, Groom Quilts. Some were used in a way not seen these days, they were called "death quilts". One described in Quilts in America, Patsy and Myron Orlofsky, (pg. 246) is called a "Death Watch Quilt" as it was made by the family members of Eli Lilly, who sat by his death bed as a memorial and included Eli Lilly's signature by the lyre on the quilt!
These quilts also happened to be about the best way to show off the incredible needlework skills of some of these women, too! Due to the extra fine fabrics used (which were bought to make the quilts which were not made of scrap fabrics) and to the fact that they were recognized as treasures for a family to have the quilts have been very well preserved. During the "quilt revival" since the 1970's quilters all over the world have been inspired by these quilts and many books and courses have been written and offered. The maven of Baltimore Quilts is Elly Sienkiewicz who has an Applique Academy in Annapolis, MD. Elly has authored a wide range of books on how to make Baltimore Quilts and the techniques of floral embroidery used to embellish them.
Elly Sienkiewicz, (author of Baltimore Beauties and Beyond and other Baltimore and applique books) is the maven of Baltimore quilts. She holds an Applique Academy every year where and and other experts teach.
A Baltimore Quilt show held in 1998 had this Philosophy:
"For almost a decade, the most renowned nineteenth-century album quilts have been valued at the sort of prices commanded by real estate. Yet, judged by widely espoused standards today, these quilts might not even place. The antique appliqué album quilts have appealed so widely and to quilt makers of such diverse talents and inclinations. We hope our judging will reflect this and commend that which makes a quilt most memorable.
Thus, our judging criteria for workmanship asks: Does the quilt inspire; fill one with admiration and pleasure? If the answer is yes, then its workmanship has been eminently successful. But no quilt shall be devalued for technical details which do not detract from the quilt's overall impression. We seek to reward for timeless qualities; for the impression the quilt conveys as a work of art."
A Departing Minister Quilt - at the Smithsonian
Minister's Wife Gift Quilt - at the Smithsonian, date 1847
A Baltimore often wins in the Applique category at quilt shows.
Baltimore Wedding Quilt, with scalloped borders is made to order at the Quiltery in Pennsyvania
Susan Druding
Note: all the GIF clip art for this article was made using Electric Quilt and the fabric collection "Baltimore II". These GIFs you may use for illustrating Web pages, with the stipulation that you credit them as being made by Susan Druding. Right click on each image to download it.
