The Duel
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)
The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied, "Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! What shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw ---
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate ---
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This is the central section of a circa 1930s baby coverlet in the collection of Patricia Cummings. There are other textiles that picture a kitten and puppy together.
Cloth Re-creations of the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat
About ten years ago, I first became aware of a 1930s design that features a gingham dog and a calico cat. A friend in Wisconsin sent me a photo of a throw pillow (cover) that she had picked up at a yard sale. I loved it! The photo was lost in a subsequent computer crash, and now, many years later, she can't find the pillow.
Uncoverings 2007, the research journal of the American Quilt Study Group features a paper titled, "The Gingham Dog or the Calico Cat: Grassroots Quilts of the Early Twentieth Century," written by Dr. Virginia Gunn. Her paper focuses on an overlooked aspect of quiltmaking: the inclusion of gingham and chambray fabrics. The description of her presentation to the group, and her paper, says this: "These simple quilts have been overlooked because of the focus on the more popular Colonial Revival quilts that flourished at the same time."
Links Between Poetry and Material Culture
Again, we see a link between poetry (in the poem above) and material culture (extant tangible artifacts of the time period). Since learning of Virginia's upcoming speech, I have since come across several mentions, one in a book and the other in a catalogue for needlework goods from the early twentieth century.
A page in Vintage Tinted Linens & Quilts by Brenda Hopkins and Laurie Koenig shows three pillows, each with a tinted dog and cat together (but not the design shown above). Their motifs could just as well be made, using gingham and calico.
The catalog is called, Premium Art Book, Richardson Silk Company, Chicago. On page 44, There is a "Cat and Dog Apron" with the first two lines of Eugene Field's poem, all to be embroidered on Blue Gingham (No. 2408), or on Pink Gingham (No. 2409). The kits included "Stamped Apron, Two Stamped Pieces of Cat and Dog to appliqué, and Lesson with complete instructions for embroidering. Requires (5) skeins Grecian Silk Floss or four (4) skeins Mercerized Cotton Floss."
Encyclopedia of Pieced Patterns/Blockbase Reveal Pieced Patterns
After having thought of the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat as appliqué patterns for quilting, or as stuffed animals, it was surprising to find patterns for piecing. In the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns and the corresponding CD called "Blockbase," there is one pattern offered for the Gingham Dog (#938.2) that was published by Jean Dubois, editor, in La Plata Press in 1979. The Calico Cat (#937.5) was published by Old Chelsea Station, a mail order company established in 1933 that sold quilt patterns under the psuedonyms of "Alice Brooks," "Laura Wheeler," and "Carol Curtis."
Both patterns would require much skill to make as they both involve complicated curved piecing.
Multi-Generational Quilt of The Gingham Dog
In 2004, with quilt blocks made by her grandmother, Mary Leola Taylor Payne, (1895-1969), and her aunt, Dottie Lee Payne Miller, (1922-2007), Mary Elmeda Payne of New York assembled a quilt of "Frisky Dog" blocks, as she calls them, in plaid and gingham remnants.
A portion of the quilt, "Old Dogs/New Tricks," assembled by Mary Elmeda Payne in 2004 with blocks made by her grandmother and aunt.
She first saw the loose dog blocks about 1960, while visiting at her grandmother's home in Crab Orchard, WV. Two twin size quilts with alternate plain blocks were planned. Thirty quilt blocks were given to her mother. Mary says that her aunt referred to the design as "The Gingham Dog," and that the pattern was inspired by the poem above.
Close up view of one "Frisky Dog."
Mary would be interested in hearing from anyone who recognizes the family members' names mentioned above. Please e-mail her directly at: leah79@klapetzky.com Many thanks to Mary for sharing images of her quilt and thanks also to certified appraiser, Elizabeth Davis of Rush, New York, for bringing this quilt to our attention.
Same Church, Different Pew
The 1937 McCall Kaumagraph Hot Iron Transfer Pattern #474 for an appliquéd baby coverlet features a calico cat, and what looks like a calico dog. Curiously, the pattern envelope indicates that the animals are a teddy bear and a cat. First, let's look at the words on the front of the envelope. Please note that "gingham" is suggested, not once, but twice.
The two images above appear here, courtesy of eBay seller, "vintage4me2." This pattern was listed as #130173902999. Thanks, Judy Yates!
Photo Images Requested
If anyone happens to have a photo of a quilt or pillow, or even free-standing, stuffed animals that could help to illustrate this brief article, please send it along to: pat@quiltersmuse.com Alternatively, if you have seen any images in quilt state documentation books or other books to which I could refer readers, please let me know. Thanks!
For more information about the American Quilt Study Group, visit their website: www.americanquiltstudygroup.org
©Copyright 2007. Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH.