Quilt No.677AP - Annette Packett

Annette Packett
Owner: 
Annette Packett
Location: 
VIC South West
Maker
Maker: 
Annie Gertrude Mitchell
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
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
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.
N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Kangaroo skin rug made from 450 x 270mm pieces overstitched together. The backing is a wholecloth plaid in red brought to the front and machine stitched to form a 60mm binding. 1660 x 1400mm
National Gallery of Australia
"The coverlet is of cream cheesecloth, highly decorated with applied figures and pieced fabric bands. The appliqué bands follow the edge of the coverlet for some time and then become circles radiating from the centre. The bands form two framed circular areas that carry appliquéd images. A smaller area lower centre of the cloth depicts birds and insects. In the centre of the work is a bordered oval with two aboriginal figures, an angel, kangaroo, emu and kookaburra, with the words 'Advance Australia Fair' embroidered in black thread. The stitching and construction of the coverlet is quite crude." [NGA] The quilt is not padded or lined. 1640 x 1550mm
The Pioneer Women's Hut
The top is a wholecloth piece of twill type cotton and the backing is a wholecloth piece of finer patterned cotton. The padding is a layer of pieces of used clothing stitched together, including part jumpers, some darned. These are inside an old folded blanket.
1540 x 950mm
Annette Gero
Double sided cretonne quilt, red floral one side, green floral the other. The padding is layers of blanket pieces and pieces of woollen clothes tacked flat. It is machine quilted in squares from the centre outwards.
1270 x 1060mm
Marlene Toomey
Kangaroo skin rug featuring skins cut in diamond shapes. It is stitched with heavy cotton and the seams are oversewn. It is not backed. 1825 x 1290mm