Quilt, Crazy

Dateca. 1890

Maker Geneva Luela Richards Graves (1862-1915) (1862 - 1915)

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Hampshire County

MediumPlain, brocaded, satin, plush/shag, ribbed, moiré, and cut, voided, and stamped velvet silks with ribbed and brocaded silk ribbons, pompom, woven tape, cord-quilted patch, and silk lining (fiber identification by eye)

DimensionsOH: 73 1/8" x OW: 61 3/8"

Credit LineGift of Karen W. Cox

Object number2020.609.4

DescriptionThis is a rectangular crazy quilt consisting of twenty blocks, each block separated by a purple ribbon sashing. The ribbon is held in place with tied herringbone stitch. The various silk fabrics are plain, brocaded, satin, plush/shag, ribbed, moiré and cut, voided, and stamped velvets. In addition there is one patch of cord quilting, ribbed and brocaded silk ribbons, woven tape, and a pompom. Stitched motifs include fans, flowers (daisies, forget-me-nots, poppies), leaves, butterflies, sheath of wheat, bugs, birds, and a vignette of five children. The stitched monogram “N” appears in the block located in the fourth row, right side. The stitched monogram “G” appears in the block in the third row, second from right. The quilt is edged in a 5 ½” wide border of purple velvet with 5 ½” squares of teal velvet in each corner. The quilt is lined with a pale yellow twill weave silk backing. It is not quilted and is finished with a knife edge.
Stitches: buttonhole, chain, couched and couched bundles of thread, feather (brier), Kensington, knots, lazy-daisy, outline, satin, seed, straight, tied herringbone
Label TextDecorative covers of this type have long been known as "crazy quilts," an appropriate term for the apparent disregard of overall design and the hodgepodge of irregularly shaped fabric swatches traditionally used in them. Actually, the construction of a crazy quilt was usually well thought out and designed. This example consists of twenty blocks of popular motifs of the period that reflected the fashionable interests in nature, gardening, and Asia. The crazy quilt was created by Geneva Luela Richards Graves of Williamsburg, Massachusetts. She and her husband, Frederick Graves, owned and operated a carriage shop. The crazy along with a pieced silk log cabin quilt descended through the family until they were donated to the museum.
InscribedThe stitched monogram “N” appears in the block located in the fourth row, right side. The stitched monogram “G” appears in the block in the third row, second from right.
ProvenanceThe quilt passed from Geneva Luela Richards Graves (1862-1915) to her son, Ralph N. Graves (1895-1959). It then passed to Ralph’s wife, Isabel McFarland Graves (1891-1980) who later gave it to their daughter, Geneva Graves Warner (b. 1925). In 2010, Geneva gave the quilt to her daughter, Karen Cox. In 2020, Karen Cox gifted the quilt to CWF.

History of quilt maker:
Geneva Luela Richards (1862-1915), was born to Francis Orestes Richards (1827-1895) and Merriam A. Terrill (1831-1915) in Cummington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts on May 23, 1862. Geneva married Fred N. Graves (1860-1936) on September 30, 1885 in Ashfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts. The Graves family operated a carriage shop in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. Together they had three children: Arthur F. (1886-1978), Philip R. (1887-1969), and Ralph N. (1895-1959). Geneva died on July 3, 1915 in Williamsburg, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.