Odd Item

[asakiyume]

cucumberseed reported the other day on Jeff and Ann Vandermeer's call for 150-word submissions for the Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities (still accepting through September 7, by the way, in case you're interested). People post their submissions as comments to the blog post asking for submissions; the Vandermeers will choose the ones they want and contact the authors by e-mail.

Anyway, though, the result is that for the time being, you can read about tons of interesting odd items at that page, and I found the following item, which delighted me with its extreme oddness, morbidness, humor, and... plausibility, actually. I believe in this thing.

Tom Underberg says:
August 23, 2010 at 2:47 pm
AMERICAN NIGHT QUILT. A notable example of a hand-stitched night quilt featuring unusual subject matter: smallpox, penury and death by hanging. This cloth quilt (circa 1850) was purchased during the 1902 decommissioning of Lake Covenant Church near Oostburg, Wisconsin. ‘Absolutely no return’ is written on the receipt. Night quilts were worked only after dark and required completion before a newborn’s name day. Panels warded against the illustrated misfortunes, but each additional panel diluted the overall efficacy. This piece features exquisite detailing. In clock-wise order, the quilt’s applique panels show: a boy, covered in small sores, alone in a bed; a man at night, his felt pockets turned inside-out, standing in a fallow field; the same man hanging from a leafless tree. On the right side of this panel, three women weep; on the left, a preacher wearing a black felt hat watches. The fourth panel is missing. – Tom Underberg

Can't you just see it? Oh the stories it must belong to!

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

What kinds of things were in the real cabinet? Often real things are as appealing as made-up ones, and odd in their own, real-world way. Interesting bottle caps, strange toys, etc.

And please reconsider submitting your own entry!

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

Let's see...it was over a decade ago so the memory is a bit dusty too.

The cabinet was a two story structure with a central atrium. All corners and walls were filled with old display cases stuffed full of natural wonders. Preserved birds of all kinds, including passenger pigeons, mounted animals, collections of tropical butterflies, local and distant artifacts, dinosaur trackways, fossils, Native people's items, tiny shoes for binding feet, I do believe there may have been a shrunken head, many bottles and jars of preserved oddities and specimens; the entire effect was extremely Victorian.

I remember the person giving the tour was very concerned about the future of the collection. We ended up not buying a farm in the Kingdom, so I never followed up on the cabinet's fate.

[marmota-monax.livejournal.com]

I FOUND IT! It's the Fairbanks Museum in St. J.!

http://www.vtliving.com/museums/fairbanksmuseum/index.shtml

You MUST go and bring your family. It's worth the long drive. Trust me.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oooh--how totally cool! I will definitely take the family up there! Thanks you!