Quilt No.983VD - Virginia DeFriest

Virginia DeFriest
Owner: 
Virginia DeFriest
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Mother Bryant'
Made in
USA Arkansas
Patterms
Patchwork, Mosaic
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Called an 'Easter Egg' pattern by the owner. Whole quilt is pieced from the same small shapes in printed and plain cottons. It is all hand stitched. The padding is cotton wadding and the backing plain white muslin. 2220 x 1840 mm
History: 

This quilt is thought to have been made by 'Mother Bryant' in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas USA c.1925. It was made for the present owner's husband, James Ellis DeFriest, at the time of his birth in 1925 and was to be a wedding quilt when he married. In 1950 he and Virginia were married in California. Following her husband's death, the quilt is with Virginia in Australia. It is used occasionally.

Story: 

"I was told it had been made by 'Mother Bryant' who lived somewhere in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas, USA. It had been presented to my late husband when he was born in 1925. 'Mother Bryant' was not a relation but presumably a close family friend. My husband was born in Springdale, Arkansas.
I first saw it when my husband and I married in California, 1950. We slept under it in many countries as my husband's work moved us to Kenya, Sierra Leonne, New Zealand, Ghana and Australia. As the older (previously used?) pieces wore out I have been replacing them and have put new edging around the quilt." [Virginia DeFriest]

James Ellis DeFriest as a baby c.1926. Next to him, Virginia and James son, Jim. Below, the owner's mother and father-in-law in 1950.
James Ellis DeFriest as a baby c.1926. Next to him, Virginia and James son, Jim. Below, the owner's mother and father-in-law in 1950.
Thought to have been taken on the Arkansas family property c.1925
Thought to have been taken on the Arkansas family property c.1925

Related Quilts:

Joyce Lannin
Quilt No.1028JL - Joyce Lannin
Machine stitched quilt made from tailors' samples cut into squares. The colours are mainly greys, browns and fawns. There is no padding and the backing is a grey herringbone heavy woollen material with a white fleck. This is folded back to the front to make a 75mm border and finished with a dark grey braid where it meets the patchwork top. 1525 x 1225mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Eileen Dinning
Quilt No.480ED - Eileen Dinning
Double sided silk quilt. One side is paisley designs and the reverse plain silk . Machine pieced. There is a thin padding possibly sheeting.
2694 x 2287mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random
Margaret Wright
Quilt No.204MW - Margaret Wright
Crazy patchqork quilt, handsewn, composed of six large squares of patches in brocade, velvet and silk in random shapes and sizes. Patches are stitched to others by blanket stitch in yellow thread. Some patches have surface embroidery, e.g. a dragonfly, flowers, music notes, and names, 'Minnie', 'Loyetta' (house in Ballarat), 'Diana'. There are also five small cream bobbles. Colours are red, gold, brown, pinks, greens and blues. Padding is flannel, and quilt is backed and edged with maroon or burgundy ribbed silk.
1461mm x 687mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy
Mare Carter
Quilt No.69MC - Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt made for a doll's bed or possibly as an infant's quilt. All cotton. The owner calls the pattern a variation of 'Bow Ties'. Hand sewn and quilted. This quilt is new.
534 x 382mm
Patchwork, Mosaic
National Trust of Australia (WA)
Quilt No.948NTW - National Trust of Australia (WA)
Patchwork top made of cottons, constructed with 5 by 5 rows of squared 8 point pieced stars alternating with white cross-shaped blocks (made from 4 pieces). On all sides are borders of half stars. The outer border is of rectangles of cotton prints appliquéd on to cotton to form a plaited pattern. The border only is backed with a band of cream cotton. All patches are whip stitched together.
2645 x 2615mm
Patchwork, Mosaic
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Quilt No.888NTNW - National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Hand sewn quilt comprising 263 rosettes of hexagons in chintz. 6 hexagons around a centre one form a rosette. Between these are plain off white hexagons. There is a mark on one corner on cream material, possibly a stamp. The crochet lace border is on three sides only.
2850 x 2720mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon