Quilt No.810QVM - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Owner: 
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Location: 
TAS
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
Unknown
Date: 
pre 1850
Description: 
Unfinished patchwork top made from hexagon patches in the 'Grandmother's Flower Garden' pattern, in glazed and unglazed cottons and some twill fabrics. 7 patches for flowers with white and some cream patches forming paths. All fabrics are patterned and date from c.1825-1840, including pieces of toile de jouy, stripes and florals. Colours are predominantly reds and blues with some green, brown, purple; one flower is in chrome yellow, 8 flowers are in turkey red indicating probably the latest fabric. The quilt is hand sewn and the papers are in tact in most patches.
1508 x 940mm
History: 

The quilt is thought to have been made in the early 1840s. It was donated to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in 1969 by Major P. Hallowes.

Story: 

Most backing papers are still in place; sheet music, letters, note books, covers, pages from a cook book. Different writing on letters also. At least 2 people were involved in the sewing as some patches are more finely sewn than others.

Related Quilts:

National Gallery of Australia
"The quilt consists of 12 blocks of crazy patchwork with an embroidered border. The quilt is made of 167 different fabrics; most of these are silk. These velvets, printed silks and satins are beautifully embroidered with flowers, household items and Kate Greenway images of children at play. Many of the motifs have a strong influence from the Aesthetic Movement. The edge of the quilt carries a border in maroon silk decorated with tendrils and daisies in very fine embroidery.
The patches are joined with hand sewing and embroidery, however the 12 panels are joined with machine stitching (chainstitch machine stitching). The blue silk lining was hand sewn into position with silk thread." [NGA]
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Joan McGregor
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