TRUE LOVER'S KNOT

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76220838126122235312011-12-06T08:57:48.181-05:00TRUE LOVER'S KNOTIn 18th and early 19th century America, popular amongst some Pennsylvania Quakers, this form of handmade love token included a penned message within mazelike linear bands enclosing English text. It is possible to follow the text along more than one path and still come out with a sensible message. To read the text from any entry point, one rotates the token.Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-19690761020586599082011-12-06T08:34:00.003-05:002011-12-06T08:42:00.103-05:00Another decade older and still charming!

This fine example ofcalligraphic American folk artturns 210 years old Friday, December 9th!

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-52192966828060795692011-12-06T08:07:00.009-05:002011-12-06T08:57:48.190-05:00This Ring is round And hath no end…

The True Lover's Knot "turns" 210 years old this Friday, December 9th. Hugh Pugh, the pen-artist, signed and dated the artifact: Bedford County Decem'r 9th 1801."This Ring is roundAnd hath no endSo is my LoveTo thee my FriendMary Fisher"(Verse appears within the left circle of the labyrinth.)"Be thankful. Be humble. Seek Mercy." I have utilized excerpts from Hugh Pugh's letters home to his

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-47277668859471352842010-11-22T22:33:00.000-05:002010-11-22T22:35:00.078-05:00"Knote-Cards"

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-70850713376102761802010-11-22T22:17:00.003-05:002010-11-22T22:28:30.087-05:00Lover's Knot Stationery

The Lover's Knot has proved so inspirational to me, that I designed and had printed blank notecards featuring Hugh Pugh's unique gift to posterity here:http://www.etsy.com/shop/hughpugh

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-73632609338671808582010-11-22T21:43:00.003-05:002010-11-22T22:35:59.546-05:00Letters of Note Blog Entry for Monday, 11.22.10

I heard about this interesting blog out of Manchester, England, called Letters of Note last week, so I took the initiative to write to the author regarding the True Lover's Knot and he was so intrigued that he posted it to the site today, following our correspondence over the weekend. The Letters of Note Blog was listed in GQ magazine as #65 in their list of the "100 BEST THINGS IN THE WORLD

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-32708385637135237792010-11-19T21:09:00.004-05:002010-11-19T21:17:51.509-05:00

Hugh Pugh is descended from a line of the Welsh Quaker Pugh family which were originally in Montgomery Co. PA, and there is a genealogy via this online document, regarding Hugh's grandparents, James Pugh and Joan Price:11. James Pugh m. Joan Price - a line from Goshen MM, Chester Co., PA"Marriage Certificate, April 23, 1692, at John German's House, Radnor twp., Chester Co., PA, Signed: James and

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-72087683769043587082010-11-19T20:20:00.002-05:002010-11-19T20:23:30.261-05:00Still in search of Hugh Pugh's Final Resting Place

I'm still attempting, when time permits, to discover where and truly when Hugh Pugh left this mortal coil. He did indeed make it as far west as Washington County, PA by 1805, but after that I can find no record. I keep hoping to bump up against some other ancestry researchers that might have clues.

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-56896981660823433902010-04-25T18:20:00.005-04:002010-04-25T18:25:51.773-04:00BBC History of the World in Objects Screenshot

A screenshot of the page containing the True Lover's Knot, which was accepted following review by the BBC A History of the World in 100 Objects. The "Knot" also appears in their Flash timeline, by scrolling along the vertical bar on that page to 1801.

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-45359039208292348862010-03-23T14:08:00.005-04:002010-03-23T14:20:20.347-04:00BBC History of the World Submission

I submitted the True Lover's Knot to the UK's BBC Channel 4 Radio program "A History of the World in 100 Objects." The show details human history via objects in The British Museum's collections. They have been reviewing objects which listeners can voluntarily submit, and which relate to the concept. I've been downloading the podcasts of the show via iTunes, and it's fascinating.I'm happy to say

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-32618530369875774382009-11-13T09:39:00.009-05:002009-11-13T14:46:24.155-05:00Quaker Schoolmasters

Re Hugh Pugh (b. 1747-d. aft 1807) the pen artist who made the 1801 "True Lover's Knot" for my great great great grandmother Mary Fisher, was an itinerant Quaker Schoolmaster by profession. He migrated from southeastern PA's Chester County westward into Bedford and later Washington Counties, beginning around 1770 and into the early 19th c.Reading about Chester Co. Quakers in the 18th c. from the

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-40646403491139268422009-09-27T16:28:00.009-04:002009-11-13T14:44:52.371-05:00Fraktur Symposium

Attended the Fraktur Symposium yesterday held at the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. A day long free (!) event featuring speakers who are expert scholars in the field.Dr. Don Yoder, U of P, spoke in the afternoon—detailing his suggestions for advancing research on Pennsylvania's Fraktur traditions.Thrilled to hear him suggest that research needs to be done regarding True Lover's

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-13971722583369903962009-02-04T14:30:00.003-05:002009-02-04T14:40:09.693-05:00Appraisement Update

The appraisement for Insurance purposes of this early 19th century Lover's Knot or Valentine is complete and I've received an Affadavit Copy to that end, from Freeman's (America's Oldest Auction House) in Philadelphia, to that end from Lynda A. Cain, Appraiser.The document states that the fixed value by her in the appraisement is the fair market values for replacement purposes, taking into

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-78585127083322161852008-06-08T10:26:00.007-04:002008-06-08T10:54:00.760-04:00Genealogy Guys Acknowledgment

The Genealogy Guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith discuss genealogy-- their podcast is the longest-running, continuous genealogy podcast in the world. ( http://www.genealogyguys.com/ )They kindly made a follow-up mention in the June 4th '08 episode to the True Lover's Knot referencing their original story in their December '07 podcast. They generously mention the Real Simple magazine

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-46404850168117378272008-06-04T14:25:00.003-04:002008-06-04T14:49:56.741-04:00Keep it or Sell it?

I submitted the Knot to Real Simple magazine, via a contact at Time, Inc., last year. As a result, its image was published along with a brief caption in the June 2008 issue which hit the newstands the week of May 11th. It also appears online at this link:http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1739324-9,00.htmlThe article, "Keep It or Sell It?" appeared in the Home section and was

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-28664863155907226232008-01-09T13:11:00.000-05:002008-01-09T13:24:31.632-05:00Provenance

This "fraktur"-style artifact was made for my maternal great, great, great grandmother Mary Fisher BOWEN (b. 1781 - d. 1850, St. Clair, Bedford Co., PA). by her itinerant schoolmaster, Hugh PUGH (b. 1747/48 Uwchlan, Chester Co., PA - d. aft. 1807, place unknown).Date: December 9th, 1801Medium: Brown writing inks; red, green, brown watercolorSupport: Laid paperSize (H x W) 12-3/4" sq.Mary

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7622083812612223531.post-52157965823933132172008-01-09T12:59:00.000-05:002008-01-09T13:10:28.264-05:00English text interwoven, (partial) transposed from the Knot

A true Lovers Knot to thee my Dear I send, An Emblem of true Love without an end, Crossing turning, winding in and out, Never ceasing turning round about. And as thee sees its Linkes and Crosses here, so hath thy Beauty prov'd to me a Snare, By observation of true Love I find I am bereaved of both heart and mind.Most lovely fair one look with pity down, And do not on thy faithful Lover frown, But

Meg SMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11288162187727947666noreply@blogger.com0