Swiss journalist Jacques Légeret was ‘adopted’ by an Old Order Amish family in 1986, along with his wife and son. Over several stays, he lived for about 26 months with Amish families in Pennsylvania and Indiana. This gave him access to the ‘hope chests,’ wooden chests in which Amish women store their wedding quilts. His collection was the starting point for the creation of the European Patchwork Meeting. The author of three books on the Amish and their quilts, Jacques has exhibited his collection in various European museums; he is also known for his lectures, which offer a close-up look at these ‘exotic’ communities that intrigue us.His meeting and friendship with Hans Zogg, another Swiss-German collector passionate about quilts, led to the creation of an ‘Amish team’ showcasing a rare collection of quilts from these communities, including some of their respective favorites.Hans Zogg was born in 1946 in Zurich. A mathematician and computer science specialist, he has always been interested in various forms of artistic expression and their sources of inspiration.From 1983 onward, through friends and exhibitions, he discovered the world of quilts. He was particularly fascinated by quilts that, alongside their artisanal perfection, exude clarity, simplicity, and strength. Hans Zogg regularly writes about different aspects of quilts in his newsletters.
