Quilt No.380MR - Mary Robertson

Mary Robertson
Owner: 
Mary Robertson
Location: 
NSW Riverina
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Suffolk puff quilt with each puff approximately 4cm x 4cm. The puffs are small squares rather than the more usual circles. Materials are mainly cottons and satins in a wide variety of colours and patterns. The backing is striped flannelette and is hand stitched to the top.
1660 x 1140mm
History: 

Brought from England by Lily Stormer pre 1920. Lily married and when she died in 1963 the quilt was found in her tin trunk. It then passed to her daughter Mary Robertson. It is not used now.

Story: 

Following the death of her parents in England Lily Stormer (1899-1963) came to Australia with her brother in 1920. She went first to Sydney and then to Junee where she worked as a house-maid. In 1927 she married and there were 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys. Mary Robertson, the present owner of the quilt, is her daughter. Mary does not remember her Mother sewing.

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
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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
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Art Gallery of South Australia
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Irene Treneman
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Barbara McCabe
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