Nancy Butler Memorial Quilt

Hello all! I stopped writing this blog for a while, but now it is back! In the last few months I have been to and planned more real life funerals that I have been to in my entire life. Things were just a bit too morbid for me.

This beautiful quilt is in the collections of the Smithsonian. It is from 1842 Jamestown, New York and measures 80 in x 81 in.

From the Smithsonian's description:
Nancy Ward Butler made this quilt to commemorate the death of her granddaughter in 1842. Named for her grandmother, Nancy Adelaide Butler was born May 22 1840. She was the daughter of Calvin Butler (1818-1857), the quilt maker's son, and Mary A. Storey (1822-1909) whom he married in 1839. Nancy A. Butler died in February 1842 in Jamestown, N.Y. of scarlatina or scarlet fever, a serious and often fatal childhood disease at the time.

French 1880's Mourning Dress

 

This amazing 1880's dress is in the MET's collection  - although in storage. It was a gift of Mrs. R. Thornton Wilson to the MET in 1943. I wish there was more info, did she perhaps wear it herself as a young lady?

Hand Coloured Regency Fan

This hand coloured fan dates from1790-1820 and is in the British Museum's collection. Their description:
Unmounted fan-leaf, with a young woman in mourning dress seated by a tombstone on a grave in a landscape.

Peter Robsinson Mourning Warehouse Ad

Good old Peter Robinson. He advertised constantly in the late 19th century. If he could hear, I'd like to thank him for giving us so many glimpses into day-today mourning in Victorian London. I want to attend this sale!!!

1818 Walking Dress Print

This lovely print is in the Museum of London's collection. it dates from 1818. I've read in 2 books that mourning outfits from this time period were never all black. But this print seems to dispute that!

Victorian Mourning Cape

The Ebay seller states that this cape is from 1880. It is 17 inches long and has a 15 inch neck.

Our Darling Coffin Plate

On Ebay right now is this antique silver-plated coffin that says  "OUR DARLING". It measures 4 1/4" across by 3" tall. A little big to be made into a brooch, but tempting!