While visiting Paducah, KY this Spring (my quilt was accepted as an entry in the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show, yeah!) I visited the Metropolitan Museum. It's an old wooden building from 1909 that housed travelling African Americans. Now it's a museum to pay tribute to African American heritage and during Quilt Week is decorated with special quilts.
There were not many quilts displayed downstairs but some of them were quite touching, like this version of Overall Sam.
If you look closely at the blue sashings, there are sterotyped versions of period "Mammy" or "Aunt Jemima." I didn't really see that at first when I looked at the quilt, being drawn in to the boy's cute baggy pants with handkerchiefs in the back pockets. I've never seen this type of fabric before. I have seen Mammy style printed table linens at antique stores and shows, but it's not something I've often run across.The quilt certainly left me with lots of questions - who made it, who was it for, was it sincerely cherished or was it controversial?
The other quilts on display at the museum were a variety of styles, like a Gee's Bend type mixture of odd fabric shapes, a simple 9 patch, and a crazy quilt. I didn't take pictures of them all.
The other quilts on display at the museum were a variety of styles, like a Gee's Bend type mixture of odd fabric shapes, a simple 9 patch, and a crazy quilt. I didn't take pictures of them all.
Another interesting item on display was a very old primitive Topsy-Turvy doll, like this one. There is much historical debate on how these dolls were used. They date back before the Civil War and examples can be found in several museums across the US.
I'm so glad I stopped by the Metropolitan. Their displays were a historial treasure.
"Truly I understand that God shows no partiality."
Acts 10:34
I'm so glad I stopped by the Metropolitan. Their displays were a historial treasure.
"Truly I understand that God shows no partiality."
Acts 10:34