Quilt No.276HC - Helen Cornish

Owner:
Helen Cornish
Location:
SA
Maker
Maker:
Lillian Adair
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Patterms
Date:
1921 - 1940
Description:
Patchwork quilt in the Log Cabin pattern, each square 14cm x 14cm, made of used cotton fabrics with a fine wool fabric as the centre square of each. Colours are mainly reds, blues, greens and maroon, and pastels, in prints and plains. Quilt has a wide border of dark blue cotton with mitred corners. The padding is black and white mattress ticking, and the backing is the same dark blue cotton as the border. Machine stitched.
1770 x 1170mm
1770 x 1170mm
History:
Made by Mrs Lillian Adair (1858 - 1945) in Broken Hill (NSW) approx. 1925. Owned by her, then by her daughter Eleanor Symonds (1883-1956), then by Eleanor's daughter Gwenith Byrne (1906-1996), then by Gwenith's daughter Helen Cornish.
Story:
" have clear memories of the previous owners - my Great grandmother, Grandmother & Mother. I recall the quilt being in daily use until 1960."
[Helen Cornish]

Lillian Adair, approx. 80

Eleanor Symonds, 23

Gwenith Byrne, 82

Lillian & Eleanor's home, Dulwich (SA)
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2210 x 1430mm
Pieced repeat block, in what the owner calls 'Our Village Green' pattern. Wide variety of patterned and plain materials. Finely quilted. Padding is cotton and the backing is white calico. 2180 x 1890 mm.
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The backing is maroon cotton. 1600 x 1600 mm.
The backing is maroon cotton. 1600 x 1600 mm.
This quilt consists of rows of pieced blocks approximately 280mm square sewn directly on to a foundation square. The design is really a version of 'log cabin' set on the diagonal. The backing squares are made from flour bags including a number stamped in blue ink "The Defiance Milling Company��..Toowoomba NET 3 lbs". Another is stamped in green ink "Parsons Rolled Oats". Two short sides and one long side of the quilt are bound in apricot coloured cotton.
1960 x 1700mm
1960 x 1700mm
"The quilt consists of 12 blocks of crazy patchwork with an embroidered border. The quilt is made of 167 different fabrics; most of these are silk. These velvets, printed silks and satins are beautifully embroidered with flowers, household items and Kate Greenway images of children at play. Many of the motifs have a strong influence from the Aesthetic Movement. The edge of the quilt carries a border in maroon silk decorated with tendrils and daisies in very fine embroidery.
The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
"The quilt does consist of three layers but the central layer is not padding. The crazy patch pieces were sewn together and this was lined with white cotton fabric prior to the embroidery at the edges of the 12 panels being placed. This in turn was lined with a fine blue silk." [NGA] 1810 x 1460 mm
The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
"The quilt does consist of three layers but the central layer is not padding. The crazy patch pieces were sewn together and this was lined with white cotton fabric prior to the embroidery at the edges of the 12 panels being placed. This in turn was lined with a fine blue silk." [NGA] 1810 x 1460 mm