Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Threads That Bind


We are all connected to things out there in the world that are of little consequence to most but offer solace and a feeling of belonging to others…





I am a vintage and antique textile appraiser located in the Niagara Peninsula rich in history  and bountiful for antique textiles. There are quilts, rugs, coverlets, show towels to name just a few wrought by the hands from the past, cared for, preserved and handed down from one generation to the next…


Sometimes I have the unique opportunity of reuniting  lost treasures with descendants of their makers.



 
Such was the case this weekend… the local weaver from the 1800’s that lived in Humberstone, Ontario Edward Graf’s woven coverlet was purchased at auction by his great great great grand daughter. Though the bed linen was not made for a family member but once owned by the Swayze family early settlers to the area,  the fibers were carded, the threads touched and threaded onto a huge, jacquard loom on which Edward worked. Applying his trade and providing the area’s families with much needed warmth.

Edward Graf’s works are held at the Royal Ontario Museum, the Port Colbourne Museum and several private collections throughout Canada and the US…

Finally this one is in the arms of his great great great grandfather, not only connected by blood but by the threads that bind…

It certainly made my day with tears all around...




Photos courtesy of Jill, Jackie and Plato Auctions.

14 comments:

  1. How wonderful it must be to see and touch these old threads. What a great story...love happy endings!

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  2. Such beautiful things. I always love to pop in and see such delights! Ross

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  3. How wonderful to reunite Edward's coverlet with his great great great grandaughter, no wonder there were tears all round. Such beautiful work. One of my hobbies is genealogy and to have something tangible like this which one of my ancestors had worked on would be a dream come true. How wonderful.

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  4. Wow, this post is emotionally beautiful as I type with tears in my eyes. Wonderful share.
    xo,
    Vera

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  5. What a wonderful story - so heartwarming. The textiles are beautiful worked with such skill - it must have taken a long time to produce. No wonder his work is held in museum collections - it is exquisite - how lucky you are to have such a wonderful job.

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  6. What a stunning coverlet, and how wonderful that the maker's descendant was able to bring it back into the family!

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  7. How wonderful for the family to have that lovely coverlet made one of their ancestors back in the family! Sarah x

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  8. Such a lovely story! Such beautiful handiwork! Ros

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  9. What a wonderful story, and what a thing of beauty that is.

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  10. Oh my. More tears of joy from a Colorado mountain top. Such a wonderful story, a beautiful piece, and such happiness to know it has found it's way home.
    xo,
    Lin

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  11. What a lovely job you have! I can only imagine the treasures you see everyday!!! How wonderful to connect with the original owners and makers of such precious heirlooms.
    Hugs
    Mags

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  12. How wonderful that the great great great grand daughter could purchase the coverlet, or even was able to find out about the auction in the first place. It is truly beautiful.

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  13. Thank you for stopping by the Garden Spot. I've neve met someone of your profession. Love your photo of the flowering crabs. Ours are done. They are very pretty.

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  14. hello there... enjoying the gentle simplicity of your space here.

    "Sometimes I have the unique opportunity of reuniting lost treasures with descendants of their makers."
    oh my goodness, that would be my most favourite part of the work!hw wonderful.

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