Quilt No.647ME - Margaret Eisenhauer

Margaret Eisenhauer
Owner: 
Margaret Eisenhauer
Location: 
NSW Riverina
Maker
Maker: 
Olive Donaldson
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Patterms
Wholecloth, Utilitarian
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
This is a double sided almost square quilt. Machine made and quilted. Both sides are green cotton. One side has centre square of pink paisley. The other side has a centre square of dark blue/grey with the same material in triangles in each corner. The padding is believed to be raw wool.
1325 x 1350mm
History: 

This quilt was made by Olive Donaldson (born Dolphin) in Melbourne pre 1923. It is now owned by her daughter, Margaret Eisenhauer.

Story: 

Olive Donaldson (1893-1988) made the quilt in Melbourne probably pre her marriage in 1923. Olive came to the Temora district to be a farmer's wife on a mixed farm, sheep and grain (mainly wheat and oats). The furniture and other chattels came up in a horse drawn covered van.
Olive was a superb seamstress and made all the clothing and household furnishings for the family. She had one child, Margaret, and lived on the farm until her husband died in 1969.
Olive's grand parents migrated from Ireland where they had a farm. Olive's mother, Catherine, was born here and the family lived at Girgarry in the Goulburn Valley, Victoria.
Margaret recalled that in summer her mother would put a hand spun, hand woven Irish linen cover on the double bed in the spare room and that it had a big round embroidered piece in the middle. In winter the quilt was on the bed with just a marcella under it.

Related Quilts:

Yvonne Hamdorf
Quilt No.1016YH - Yvonne Hamdorf
Wholecloth pram quilt with a top of pink cotton sateen, and the reverse is a more finely woven, ivory, fabric. All over quilting design as main feature, with stylised hearts, leaves and cross hatching. The padding is cotton batting. 870 x 660 mm.
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element
John Tomkin
Quilt No.1005JT - John Tomkin
Hand stitched, cotton, appliquéd, quilt in a flower pattern on a plain background. Colours are shades of green, apricot and browns. This quilt was known as a 'Bride's Quilt'. Padding is thought to be layers of white fabric raised almost like a wadding. The backing is cotton material. 2470 x 2020 mm.
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
Maria Ahilas
Quilt No.779MA - Maria Ahilas
The quilt top is of rose-pink satin and the backing is a lighter pink cotton. The quilting pattern is a large central 'wheel' motif repeated from each corner like a fan. The centre 'wheel' is surrounded by a single feathered wreath and diamond fill pattern. Hand quilted. The padding is cotton wadding from cotton grown on Lesvos island.
2000 x 1600mm
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element, Greek
Inverell Pioneer Village
Quilt No.337IPV - Inverell Pioneer Village
Wholecloth quilt made of red floral crinoline cotton material. Quilting is in vertical rows, alternating cables with orange peel patterns. Padding is of cotton flock. Backing is of white cotton. Quilt is edged with a self fabric ruffle on three sides. Hand sewn.
2236 x 2236mm
Wholecloth, Quilting as major design element
Margaret Wilson
Quilt No.587MW - Margaret Wilson
Hand stitched appliqued quilt or banner. Different hand stitching indicates applique was probably done by several people. There is no padding. The backing is calico.
2230 x 2140mm
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued
National Gallery of Australia
Quilt No.970NGA - National Gallery of Australia
" A coverlet of 7 pieces of cream muslin. The edges of the work are secured at the top and sides with bands of green and floral strips. The lower edge has been turned and hemmed. The 'quilt' is highly decorated with bands and diamonds of appliqué fabric. The upper centre field is appliquéd with images depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden surrounded by trees and a variety of animals and insects. In the centre is a smaller appliquéd image of the manger with mangel and cows. The quilt is not signed or dated, but each of the imaged areas is accompanied by a descriptive text. The writing is executed in black chain stitch. Beads and sequins have been used to depict the eyes of some of the animals in the Garden of Eden. As with all of Mary Jane Hannaford's quilts all work is hand sewn and quite crude and coarse in execution. The quilt is not padded or lined." [NGA] 1810 x 1590mm
Wholecloth, Embroidered and/or Appliqued, Pictorial