Day 52 Williamsburg, VA

Today we went to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.  It has been set to look as is did the 1770's.  This visit I chose to go to the Arts Museums, the Folk Art and Decorative Arts exhibits were my focus.  The rest of the group started on the village square.  I went particularly to see quilts but saw much much more.

This embroidery was done in the early 1800's by Margery Jane McGuire, age 10.

These quilts were made between 1818 and the 1840's  Beautiful craftsmanship.

White work from 1818

I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was an exhibit of African American quilts.  These quilts were made between 1875 and 1975.  Among the collections were several Gee's Bend quilts.  These women from Alabama made utilitarian quilts with bright colored fabrics.  They have a wonderful sense of color and space.

This silver chandelier was made between 1691-1697 for King William III of England.  It weights nearly 50 pounds.  It left the kings collection in 1808 when it was deemed unusable at weight value.  Fortunately the silver smith sold it rather than melting it down.  Eventually it was purchased by William Randolf Hearst in 1924 and now is in a museum where the rest of us can see it.

All through the village there were costumed townspeople.  We enjoyed listening to this duo while waiting for the rest of our group.