AboutJulie Silber Expertise I can speak to the age, design, style, region, history, and value of antique quilts.
Experience Forty years as an appraiser, dealer, historian, collector, consultant and museum curator in the area of QUILTS MADE BEFORE 1950.
Organizations American Quilt Study Group (former Board Member); Alliance for the American Quilt (Former Board Member)
Publications Author or co-author of several award winning books on Quilt History; numerous articles on quilt history published over a 30 year period. Details upon request.
Education/Credentials B.A., American History, University of Michigan; Post Graduate courses in folklore, history and art history
Past/Present Clients Esprit de Corp., San Francisco; Levi Strauss, San Francisco; Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI; Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR
Expert: Julie Silber Date: 7/22/2008 Subject: "When Harry Met Sally" Quilt
Question I saw the question that Fran asked about this particualr quilt when I, too, was looking for the name of this pattern. Interestingly, I have this same quilt in these same colors that I inherited from my grandmother. She made it in 1917 when she was pregnant with my father. Could you also let me know when you find the name of this pattern? Thank you so much.
Answer Hi,
Thanks for your question --- how interesting that you have the same quilt and saw Fran's question on the AllExperts site...
It was a very popular quilt pattern, so we do see lots of them around still. The quilt was made from a pattern designed by a commercial company. It is called "Windblown Tulip," and was first designed by a woman named Marie Webster, a well known early 20th century designer of quilt designs and kits.
"Windblown Tulips" was one of Webster's first designs, published as a pattern in Ladies' Home Journal in 1911. (She created MANY.)
Later -- around 1930 -- a similar pattern (what we would call today a "knock-off") was printed on the paper that wrapped batting made by a company called Stearns & Foster (Mountain Mist Batting).
You can learn a great deal about Marie Webster. Just GOOGLE her! Here is quote about her from one of numerous articles:
"Marie Webster had a major hand in the revitalization of the quilting movement, and she was one of the first woman in America to build a cottage industry from her quilting. Marie was a quilt maker, then a designer, and finally an entrepreneur in quilt patterns and kit making. She authored the first book dedicated to the history of quilts, "Quilts: Their Story and How to Make Them," in 1915."
Webster's grand daughter, Rosalind Webster Perry, opened a museum in her grandmother's original home in Marion, Indiana. It is called The Quilter's Hall of Fame.
Hope this helps.
All the best,
Julie Silber
The Quilt Complex
POB 729
Albion, CA 95410
quiltcomplex@hughes.net
