Alphabet quilts are one of the hardest to find, most eye catching categories of antique quilt collecting. Over the years FISHER HERITAGE has found some exceptional discoveries that defy the traditional alphabet format. Now it's time to see them enter public and private collections.

Probably the the majority of the letters in most known antique alphabet quilts were formed by tracing the oak tag stencils bought mail order from the Ladies Art Company since the late 19th century (10 cents for one; 25 cents for three.) Then they were arrayed in the traditional alphabet format starting with the A in the upper left corner, then in rows across or down through to the  Z. Because there are 26 alphabet letters which work out into an uneven number of blocks for rows,  to expand the block numbers so the rows and finished quilt come out evenly vertically and horizontally, the maker might add other blocks with her monogram, the date, stars or other symbols or designs.

Among Laura Fisher's atypical discoveries are alphabets in which the letters were pieced in reverse; were set out in vertical rather than horizontal rows, were placed from upper right to lower left on the quilt surface, or were cut out by hand rather than using commercial stencils. Quilts with lettering were fashioned before the stencils  were sold, becoming prominent during the last quarter of the 19th century. Rare examples with pieced lettering that 'say' things - usually bible verses - were made earlier.

Why would some letters be backwards? Possibly the maker did not realize which side of the fabric to lay the stencil on so that when the quilt top was sewn together the finished letters faced forward showing the fabric's reverse instead. Possibly the maker was dyslexic or had limited education so could not make the letters from come out correctly. Or perhaps the maker was an immigrant, non English speaking, from a nation where the alphabet is written differently, say from right to left in horizontal or vertical rows

Among the unique configurations of the alphabet that Laura Fisher of FISHER HERITAGE has been fortunate to discover are several with the alphabet appearing not necessarily in alphabetical order!:

* an alphabet of black letters on white cut free hand and formatted vertically starting with the A in the upper right corner, concluding at the Y (no Z here) in the lower left corner.

* a classic straightforward alphabet with letters from the Ladies Art Company Stencils; to make rows of 5 x 6, the maker added the date 1966 in the four blocks following the alphabet

* pieced letters that seem to have been embroidered or cross stitched, but actually were made of the tiniest red cotton squares forming the alphabet plus monogram of three additional letters. Examples like this are rare, and seen in early some 19th century work in museums

* a rustic alphabet of hand shaped letters set in a narrow grid as are some other examples in the collection. This one is unusual in that it is not cotton but is made from the felted woolens of undergarments from the turn of the century. It was collected from an Amish home, which may account for the resemblance of the lettering shapes to the Germanic letters used by that sect

* Bottoms up - another unique example in which the alphabet reads differently for sure - from the lower left corner it continues in serpentine rows up and and up to the Z at the upper right corner. To make the block numbers work out, the maker inserted four blocks to record the date 1901 as the centerpiece of the composition. The letters here are hand pieced also.

* a festive and curious example made with the most exuberant free hand unmeasured letters arrayed in vertical rows starting at the upper right reading down. The final four blocks are pieced in a geometric quilt pattern. Here too some of the letters read backwards suggesting a limited mastery of the alphabet 

Contact Laura for additional photos and information on these and other alphabet quilts in inventory. 

To make an appointment in advance to come see them in person in our Chelsea gallery downtown, email or telephone. 

Laura Fisher's FISHER HERITAGE

http://www.laurafisherquilts.com 

cell: 917/797-1260  email: fisherheritage@yahoo.com