Quilt No.677AP - Annette Packett

Annette Packett
Owner: 
Annette Packett
Location: 
VIC South West
Maker
Maker: 
Annie Gertrude Mitchell
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Patterms
Typically Australian, Pieced Animal skins, Exotic Animals, Re-used clothing or blanket
Date: 
1901 - 1920
Description: 
Fur rug, mainly rabbit skins. The animal origin of the centre strip of tan fur is unknown. Restoration work was done on the rug 30 years ago and a new green felt backing replaced the old green one. 1000 x 750mm
History: 

This home made rug was stitched, from mainly rabbit skins, by Annie Gertrude Mitchell in Raglan Victoria in the early part of this century. Her husband Albert Mitchell shot the rabbits to supplement the family's diet. It then passed to Ida Tunnecliffe their daughter and then to her daughter Annette Packett the present owner. It is not used now.

Story: 

"It was originally much larger than the present rug. I rescued it from being thrown out nearly thirty years ago because it was in a state of considerable disrepair. To make it presentable, I cut out much of the fur which had perished over the years, and backed it with green felt. (It originally had a green backing). Knowing what I do today I would perhaps have left it in its original state, but at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. ���..My grandparents Lived in Raglan (Victoria). My grandfather was a potato digger, rabbit shooter etc. They owned a cow, and had a large vegetable garden and lots of chooks to supplement their meagre income. ���.I have fond memories of snuggling in this rug as a child. I think most of the skins are rabbit, but I don't know what the tan fur is. It is lovely and soft, and was always my favourite part." [Annette Packett 22.11.99]

Related Quilts:

Western Australian Museum
Quilt No.24WAM - Western Australian Museum
Kangaroo skin cloak of seven gores is made from the skins of seven grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus). The skins vary in size and shape, the inner five are roughly triangular. The cloak is edged with a series of loops, through one of these near the collar is a piece of cloth which appears to have tied the cloak together. The skins are sewn together with two sorts of linen or cotton thread. In a small diamond-shaped gusset at the back of the neck there are some stitches of sinew. The skins are sewn together by means of a small hem which was turned back on to the fur, so stitches went through two layers of skin on each gore. There are some small holes in the skins. The skins are very soft and pliable, and greyish in colour; they vary in size and shape. Longest part: 800mm Ref: MA Thesis 1973, S.Meagher 'A Reconstruction of the Traditional Life of the Aborigines of the S.W. of Western Australia.
Pieced Animal skins, Skin Cloaks
Elsie Roberts
Quilt No.340ER - Elsie Roberts
Patchwork quilt has a centre of a square within a square, with rows of scraps added around it. The scraps are mainly cotton shirting fabrics and are cut in different sizes and shapes. The two long sides have a narrow red edging folded from the back. The other two sides have been 'bagged'. Filling is an unusual weave thought to be wool. Backing is a pink, red and beige floral cotton.
2080 x 1650mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Museum Victoria
Quilt No.900MV - Museum Victoria
Possum skin cloak. Possum skins sewn together with vegetable fibre or kangaroo sinew. Designs incised into the skins, some of which are decorated with ochres. 2070 x 1540mm
Pieced Animal skins, Skin Cloaks
Ida Blenkiron
Quilt No.269IB - 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
Patchwork, Mosaic, Rectangle, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
National Museum of Australia
Quilt No.893NMA - National Museum of Australia
Platypus skin rug. Skins are joined in 7 rows with the larger skins on the outside and the smaller ones in the centre. Skins are rich dark brown with yellow/cream sides (the belly fur). The backing is dark brown felt extending beyond the fur and with a stamped scalloped edge. 1720 x 1490mm
Pieced Animal skins, Native Fauna
National Gallery of Australia
Quilt No.958NGA - National Gallery of Australia
"The Rajah "quilt" is a patchwork and appliquéd bed cover or coverlet. It is in pieced medallion or framed style: a popular design style for quilts in the British Isles in the mid 1800's. There is a central field of white cotton decorated with appliquéd (in broderie perse) chintz birds and floral motifs. This central field is framed by 12 bands or strips of patchwork printed cotton. The quilt is finished at the outer edge by white cotton decorated with appliquéd daisies on three sides and inscription in cross stitch surrounded by floral chintz attached with broderie perse on the fourth side. All fabrics used in the Rajah quilt are cotton with the exception of small amounts of linen and silk threads. The quilt shows evidence of being produced by many hands." [NGA] The quilt is not padded or lined. 3372 x 3250mm
Frame, Motifs or Names, Patchwork, Typically Australian