Quilt No.389AC - Ann Cuthbert

Ann Cuthbert
Owner: 
Ann Cuthbert
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Mrs Wight
Made in
USA
Date: 
1881 - 1900
Description: 
Patchwork quilt of hexagons in pattern known as 'Grandmother's flower garden'. All cotton. Rosettes are set in a white 'path' with the centre and first ring in solid colours and the second ring prints. There is a yellow border and an outer border in pink. It is hand pieced and hand quilted. The padding is cotton and the backing is white cotton with 2 border edges in light and dark blue. These borders were originally part of the top. There is an inscription "Dear daughter from Mother".
2390 x 1880mm
History: 

The quilt was made in California, USA, by the owner's great, great, great grandmother whose name was Wight and who had come from the Isle of Wight. It is thought to have been made in 1892 and it passed by maternal descent through the next 5 generations. The surnames of the next 3 generations of women are: Stid (great, great GM), Northam (great GM), Whipple (GM). The quilt then passed to Ann Cuthbert's mother, Elizabeth Whipple (later MacGregor) and then to Ann.
The quilt is not used.

Story: 

There is a history of handwork in the family. The quilt has rarely been used as it was too fragile but Ann Cuthbert recalls it being on her bed as a teenager. Ann came to Australia when she was 10 years old.
It is thought that Mrs. Wight (born 1811) made the quilt for her daughter's birthday.
[Ann Cuthbert requested that the following information be included: The quilt is now with her daughter-in-law (son deceased) in Finland and the address is: Marja Cuthbert, Selininkatn 1 A 13, 33240, Tampere, Finland.]

Surnames are: Wight (seated), Stid, Northam and baby Whipple c.1876
Surnames are: Wight (seated), Stid, Northam and baby Whipple c.1876

Related Quilts:

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Quilt with alternate red and white diamonds in cotton, with wide border of white cotton and a white cotton crochet edging. All diamond patches and edging were joined to white border decorated with feather stitch. White border edged with zig-zag white feather stitch. Centre rectangle of white has 4 red petals edged with white feather stitch and 4 red diamonds each embroidered in white clockwise: '1898', 'R', 'L', 'K'. Diamonds edged with feather stitch. There is no padding and the backing is white cotton.
2420 x 1740mm
Margaret McMillan
Cotton log cabin double bed quilt. Each square has 52 pieces (i.e. 13 pieces x 4 to make a square). There are 192 squares so a total of 10.092 pieces. There is probably no padding. The backing is calico with a floral pattern done in running stitch.
2200 x 2200mm
Alice Lemon
Patchwork quilt made from hexagon patches on one side, and squares and rectangles on the reverse. Cottons are used, mostly from dressmaking, in bright and light colours. The hexagons form an indented edge on all sides; on the back the rectangles have been cut at the edge to match the hexagon shapes. Hand sewn, the edge machine sewn.
No padding.
1551 x 1373mm
Robert O'Hara Burke Memorial Museum
Miniature crazy quilt either for a baby or a doll. Plain and patterned materials including velvet, satin, sateen and brocade. 4 patches are embroidered and the central patch has a hand painted flower. Each patch is embroidered around the edge with a variation of feather stitch. It has a brown binding and lace edge. The backing is twill cotton.
490 x 390mm
Nancy Dunlap
Grandmother's flower garden pattern. All cottons with plain centres to 'flowers' then row of prints and outer row of plains. One hexagon flower has been repaired. Scalloped edges bound with yellow. Hand quilting around the hexagons. The backing is cream cotton and the padding is thin cotton. 2140 x 1780mm.
Ida Blenkiron
Rectangular quilt with front and back made of rectangles of cotton samples of shirt materials, in checks, stripes and plains. Colours are soft muted reds, greens, blues, yellows and browns, and pastels. Construction is 3 to 4 rows of rectangles joined across the quilt. Padding is probably an old blanket. There is a row of hand quilting approximately the width of one patch in from the edge, holding the layers together.
1870 x 950mm