MARGARET BERWIND SCHIFFER

1923 - 2022

SCHIFFER MARGARET BERWIND Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on October 11, 1923, Margaret Berwind Schiffer, a descendant of Martha Washington, daughter of the late Charles Graham Berwind and Ellen McMichael, prominent Philadelphia leaders, died on October 13, 2022 at Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. She was a noted collector of American Antiques, English horse paintings, toys, and Christmas ornaments. Her enthusiasm for antique Christmas ornaments and toys led her to amass one of the great collections of Yuletide decorations. She believed that collecting is a never-ending process. Margaret authored numerous books including Historical Needlework of Pennsylvania and Furniture and its Makers of Chester County, Pennsylvania. She started collecting to furnish a Pennsylvania farm house built in 1730 in West Chester, PA. Having learned needlework at an early age she became particularly interested in old examples and created countless pieces throughout her lifetime. She did extensive research on early Chester County furnishings with the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester. Charles F. Montgomery, former director of the Winterthur Museum, said, "She accomplished what no one else in the United States ever attempted before: a study in depth of products and lives of artists and artisans of one county, one community." Margaret wrote numerous articles on historical needlework for Antiques Magazine as well as lecturing at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and to historical societies and other groups. She was an officer of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Colonial Dames of America, a member of the Merion Cricket Club, Radnor Hunt, the Philadelphia Garden Club and many others through the years. She was also an avid and a devoted owner of numerous French poodles, standard & miniature. In cooperation with Unique Standard Poodles in Garnet Valley many of her dogs achieved awards in the American Kennel Club show circuit. To the end, her beloved miniature poodle Holly was by her side. Margaret is survived by her brother David McMichael Berwind; daughter, Susan Schiffer Stautberg; her daughter-in-law Nancy Nutt Schiffer; three grandsons, Dr. Herbert Nutt Schiffer, Peter Nutt Schiffer and Edward Berwind Stautberg and their wives, Rebecca Lynn Schiffer, Loryn Wilson Schiffer, and Dr. Rachel Tate; two great grandsons, Wilson Peter Schiffer and Porter James Schiffer; and great granddaughter, Cecilia (Cece) Stautberg. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Emery Hartland Berwind, Charles Graham Berwind; her husband, Herbert Frederick Schiffer; and son, Peter Berwind Schiffer. Margaret was married to her husband Herbert for almost 60 years. He was a farmer, an antique dealer, and an award-winning orchid grower. Her family will spread Margaret's ashes at Herbert's Hill Farm, where she spent most of her life at a private ceremony. The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Dunwoody Village, specifically in Cedars East, as well as the care giving companions provided by Dunwoody At Home for the compassionate care they provided for Margaret and Holly over the years. In lieu of donations, please celebrate Margaret's life with a heartfelt story, a fond memory, and a pat for your dog. We will remember her in our prayers.