Quilt No.153MR - Mavis Roberts

Mavis Roberts
Owner: 
Mavis Roberts
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Aunty Green
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
1851 - 1880
Description: 
Wholecloth quilt, with applique patterns in printed coloured cottons, of a entral flower basket in an oval leaf border, appliqued leaf and flower branches, a twisted cable border, wider band of leaf and flower branches, and a final border of applique Greek key motif.The base material is linen or similar with all applique very finely hand sewn. As the quilt grew the background material has been extended with tiny hand stitches.
History: 

Made by Auntie Green 1860-1870 for Annie (Mrs Kirby) who travelled to New Zealand to be married around 1870-1880. Annie Kirby (1856-1954) later gave the quilt to her niece Mabel Williams (1884-1976) who gave it to her daughter Mavis Roberts.

Story: 

"� Aunt Annie was my Mother's real aunt and my great aunt, maybe a small portion of the family tree would help
Annie & Ada were sisters
Ada my mother's mother Mabel
Mabel My Mother Mavis
I have a studio photo of Aunt Annie as a woman of about 40 taken when I know not, maybe when I locate it again in 'the box', it may reveal more detail, also in the same box are very early photos of A.Annie taken with the family when she visited us in 1922 (I am just a baby in arms) but like all these photos my mother was always behind the camera and as she developed and printed them herself they have faded very badly (there was no professional 'Rabbit' or the like places to take your films, anyway they were all on glass plates in those days) last time I looked at these they were very faint. I also have a photo of A.Annie taken at some party could have been for the coronation of our present queen, she and her young brother both have on party hats, their ages would have been about 93 and 81 she kept house for this brother till her death.
I have very little information about her time in New Zealand, although I think there are N.Z. postcards in same box but I don't think it is her writing I would have to recheck them. ���."
"I do not know if you are interested in all the following detail but it does give an insight into the travels of some of the old quilts.
From family passed down knowledge I understand the Quilt was made by Auntie Green just who she was I do not know but my mother (1884-1976) remembers a black silhouette in a frame on the mantlpiece that she was told as a child was Auntie Green, who gave it - the quilt - to Mrs Kirby (Auntie Annie 1856-1954) when she went to New Zealand to be married, she travelled in a Windjammer round the Horn about 1870-1880. When her husband died Mrs Kirby returned to England bringing the quilt with her, not sure how she travelled this time but in herlife did 3 trips around the world, after a while in England she then went to USA to stay with her sister (not sure if the quilt went or stayed in England) she then returned to England. In 1922 she came to visit us in Aust. And revisit New Zealand, while with us my mother asked did she remember a quilt her mother was making (Mother left England to come to Aust. In 1915) her mother had died in 1921. Aunt Annie said she didn't know of that one but she had one Auntie Green had made her when she left to be married in New Zealand and she would send it to Mother. I can remember a few years later that the quilt was on its way and was expecting great things and was very disappointed when I saw it. It was displayed in a few Antique shows at Red Cross displays or CWA shows and the like in Bairnsdale, it started to show a few spots that had to be repaired and while my Mother was a fine needlewoman found it very hard to mend as the pieces were appliqued on with just the edge whipped under to make a small hem then finely stitched how it was originally made with almost no lighting except candles or rush lights is rather marvellous tribute to the ladies of that era.
When my Mother died in 1976 aged 92 the quilt in the old box went to my sister's place and on her death still in the old box came to me where it stayed undisturbed until I mentioned it to Richard Heathcote at Ripponlea when they had a quilt display on there and he asked could it be put on show there and he found an old iron bed of a similar vintage to display it.
Auntie Green made the quilt 1860-1870
Auntie Annie (Mrs Kirby) took it to New Zealand 1870-1880 (1865-1954)
My Mother (Mrs Williams) 1884-1976
Me (Mrs Roberts) 1921- "
[Extract, letter from Mavis Roberts 30.7.96]

Related Quilts:

Yvonne Hamdorf
Wholecloth pram quilt with a top of pink cotton sateen, and the reverse is a more finely woven, ivory, fabric. All over quilting design as main feature, with stylised hearts, leaves and cross hatching. The padding is cotton batting. 870 x 660 mm.
John Tomkin
Hand stitched, cotton, appliquéd, quilt in a flower pattern on a plain background. Colours are shades of green, apricot and browns. This quilt was known as a 'Bride's Quilt'. Padding is thought to be layers of white fabric raised almost like a wadding. The backing is cotton material. 2470 x 2020 mm.
June Brown
Rectangular cot quilt of green floral cretonne with pleated frill. Machine made. The backing is the same material. It is tied not quilted. The padding is old woollen jumpers.
1050 x 610mm
June Brown
Wholecloth quilt made from rayon/damask style fabric golden brown in colour with a raised stylised floral motif. Quilted to the self pattern of the fabric. Hand quilted, backing is of gold coloured fabric.
Cotton wadding showing through worn areas.
1810 x 1250mm
Red Cliffs Historical Society
Garland with berries appliqued on wholecloth quilt of off white cotton. The backing is whole cloth in soft green. The garland (ribbon appearance) is in floral patterned green. The red berries are padded. It is machine quilted. Dacron type padding.
1820 x 1500mm
Christine Taylor
Autograph quilt consisting of 372 x 100mm calico squares with signatures worked in green thread. There is a scalloped border. The backing is green paisley flannelette and the padding is an old twill sheet.
2200 x 1840mm