Vanity Fair, c. 1865-1890

by Nancy Gere

Vanity Fair, a place or scene of ostentation or idle amusement and frivolity.; Additionally, a vain and frivolous way of life especially in large cities (after a fair held in the town of Vanity in Pilgrim's Progress).; The name later became the title of William Makepeace Thackeray„s novel published in 1848, satirizing society in early 19th century England.; It is also reminiscent of these beautiful examples of mid to late 19th century European Textiles.

All of the designs from Vanity Fair were selected from just 2 quilts from the archives of Nancy Gere.; They are comprised of colors that were becoming popular towards the end of the 1860„s namely dark plums, rich browns reddish pinks and the occasional clear blue.; However it is rare to find these colors together in a single quilt from this era. Vanity Fair with its large important florals and bold border stripes inspire today„s quilters to recreate quilts from the glorious age of Elizabethan England.