Quilt No.299ASA - Art Gallery of South Australia

Owner:
Art Gallery of South Australia
Location:
SA Adelaide
Maker
Maker:
Virginia Huntingdon Barclay
Made in
USA
Patterms
Date:
1881 - 1900
Description:
Rectangular patchwork crazy quilt pieced in squares (3 across by 4 down), in silks and wool, with red sashing between blocks and red border, quilted. Colours are dark, with red and light blue. Embroidery includes double feather, rope, herringbone, satin, cross, sword edge, buttonhole and coral stitches, and French knots. Embroidered flowers include lily of the valley, rose, daisy, and sunflower, also butterflies. Backing is pieced in the frame style, with a large centre red square, within 10 frames or borders. Embroidered "In Most Loving Memory of My Darling 1883", "V.H.B." Hand sewn.
1900 x...
1900 x...
History:
Made by Virginia Huntingdon Barclay in Bethany, Virginia, USA, c.1883. Given to Mary Barclay (born Magarey) by her husband, Virginia's brother. Owned by her daughter Audine Andrews. Gifted to the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, in 1983 by Mrs. Audine Andrews.
832A4
Story:
Virginia Huntingdon Barclay, who died aged 21, made her quilt in Bethany, Virginia, United States. Her embroidered inscription is signed and dated 1883. The quilt was given to the donor's mother Mary Barclay (born Magarey) in 1919 on her return to South Australia with her family. Mary Barclay was born in South Australia and visited the United States in 1903 where she met and married the maker's brother.

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"A medallion or framed quilt in design. There is a central field of small patchwork diamonds, and from this radiates plain stripes of fabric bordering areas of patchwork panels. The edge of the quilt carries bands of red cotton, which are slightly larger at the top and bottom edges, and here the band is additionally decorated with appliqué diamonds. The fabric of the patchwork is cotton in fine plain weave of pale coloured florals and small geometric designs. The framing and border stripes are of bright red twill weave cotton. The small diamonds of the central field are hand sewn, with more use of machine stitching around the outer edge of the quilt.
The quilt is not padded. The patchwork is fully lined with a printed plain weave cotton fabric with a design commemorating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The design is based on a repeated grid of circles. In the centre of each circle is a cameo of Queen Victoria, surrounded by images of the national flowers of England, Scotland and Ireland: the rose, the thistle and the shamrock. The edge of the front face of the quilt is trimmed with a red and white cotton braid." [NGA] 2380 x 2220mm
The quilt is not padded. The patchwork is fully lined with a printed plain weave cotton fabric with a design commemorating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The design is based on a repeated grid of circles. In the centre of each circle is a cameo of Queen Victoria, surrounded by images of the national flowers of England, Scotland and Ireland: the rose, the thistle and the shamrock. The edge of the front face of the quilt is trimmed with a red and white cotton braid." [NGA] 2380 x 2220mm