Quilt No.804EK - Effie Kalenderidis

Effie Kalenderidis
Owner: 
Effie Kalenderidis
Location: 
ACT
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
GREECE Lemnos
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Wholecloth quilt made from pink satin, with similar pink cotton backing. The padding is cotton wadding. It is hand quilted and the pattern is a large central circular motif of a leaf pattern. There is a fan design in each corner and the in-fill pattern is of curved and straight parallel lines. The external border is four parallel lines.
2030 x 2000mm
History: 

The quilt was made in the late 1940s or early 1950s on the Greek island of Lemnos by a local quiltmaker whose name is unknown. It was given to the present owner, Effie Kalenderidis by her aunt, Mary Kalenderidis. This was one of several she had made and sent out from Lemnos. It is still used.
[See entry for Dora Andonaros and other entry for Effie Kalenderidis]

Story: 

"Effie's Paploma
Effie Kalenderidis was two years old when she arrived in Australia in 1955 with her parents Chrisoula and Trifonas Karpouzos. They came from the village of Kamenitsa, Arcadia, in the Peloponnese, the southern peninsular which is joined to mainland Greece by the Corinth Canal.
There were several quilts around the Kalenderidis household, even a small cot quilt. They all originated from Atsiki on the island of Lemnos where Eleni Kalenderidis (Effie's mother-in-law) had collected them for her family. These two were most probably made by a local quilt-maker, as was the custom in those years. In 1955, Lucas Kalenderidis (Effie's father-in-law) migrated to Australia to begin a new life and hopefully create a better future for his family. When Eleni and their three sons Steve (Efstratios), Ross (Garifalos), and Theo (Theodoraos) arrived in 1956 to join him, their quilts came with them.
The blue quilt, still in excellent condition, was originally owned and used by Steve, as he grew up. He left his quilt at home in Goulburn when he began his training as a high-school teacher. He then took up a teaching position in Canberra and later married Effie. When their first daughter Helena (Eleni) was born, Lucas gave this blue quilt to Effie as a sentimental gift. She in turn, will hand it down to Helena when she marries.
The pink quilt was a special gift to Effie from Aunty Mary Kalenderidis, who was married to Lucas' brother George, and was also from Atsiki, Lemnos. This quilt also will be handed down - to daughter Christine (Chrisoula) when she marries. So already these lovely 'paplomata' represent three generations in the family. Over the years, Effie has had much pleasure in using and caring for them; she has always loved the traditional handcrafts which are so much part of Greek life and culture.
Effie grew up in Wollongong and later trained in secretarial work in Sydney. When she and Steve married, they moved to Canberra where their daughters were born and educated. Helena is a chartered accountant and Christine is currently studying commerce and law at ANU."
[Written by Lula Saunders and Effie Kalenderidis. Adapted from interview 10.1.01 for the National Quil Register]

Effie Kalenderidis, 2001
Effie Kalenderidis, 2001

Related Quilts:

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.
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.
Effie Kalenderidis
Wholecloth quilt made from blue satin with turquoise blue cotton backing. The padding is cotton wadding. The quilting pattern is a large central motif of a daisy with a fan design in each corner. The in fill pattern is of curved and straight parallel lines and the border straight parallel lines. It is all hand quilted.
2000 x 1660mm
Ida Blenkiron
Wholecloth quilt made from turquoise and red plaid brushed cotton, with a filling of a marcella bedspread with cut up pieces of knitted and crocheted garments stitched on top by hand and machine. Garment pieces are pink, red, yellow, black and pastels. Sleeves, collar and pockets can be clearly seen. Backing is an old blanket.
Berry & District Historical Society
It is a plain white linen double-bed sheet or bed-cover on which have been embroidered (over autographed signatures) the names of members of various associations and clubs, local MPs, visiting dignitaries etc associated with the Berry Agricultural Show of 1906. There are badges and emblems also embroidered in red or pale gold thread including the central Berry Agricultural Society Association motif surrounded by a wreath of lillipilly leaves and berries, a rebus on the name 'Berry'.
Joan Bradford
This utility quilt/eiderdown has a wholecloth top of faded floral cotton, a frill of the same material and a centre diamond of plain green cotton. The backing is plain green and the padding is kapok.
1753 x 1474mm