Quilt No.266NPW - National Parks & Wildlife Service of SA

Owner:
National Parks & Wildlife Service of SA
Location:
SA
Maker
Maker:
Esther Lewis
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Patterms
Date:
1881 - 1900
Description:
Child's cot quilt of crazy patchwork, with patches of velvet, silk brocade and satin, all seams embroidered with feather stitch in different coloured threads. There is a wide border of peach-brown velvet. Backing is a floral cotton. Has been in poor condition, conserved by Artlab SA.
1490 x 1000mm
1490 x 1000mm
History:
Made by Mrs Esther Lewis, wife of HM Collector of Customs and Post Master General, in Adelaide (SA), c.1884-1885. Owned by the National Parks & Wildlife Service of SA, at Old Government House, Belair National Park. Displayed at Old Government House.
Story:
In 1883 Esther's daughter Bessie died, and she became responsible for the six grandchildren, all under the age of 12. The quilt was made after Bessie's death.
Related Quilts:
Double bed patchwork coverlet of pieced blocks in a pinwheel or dresden plate pattern of prints on a cream ground, each block with a 1 3/4" border or sash. Each pinwheel has 10 pieces, and the quilt is constructed 8 blocks by 6. Cotton fabrics are in florals, checks and stripes, in blues, greens browns, pinks, purple. The quilt was in poor repair and has been reduced in size. Conservation work has been done by the State Conservation Centre.
Backing or filling unknown.
Backing or filling unknown.
Log cabin pattern, each block dark and light strips. 4 blocks joined with dark strips to centre to make larger block. 30 large blocks and 2 sides with half blocks. Each block is machined on to calico. Materials include velvets, corduroys, interlock, taffetas and silver lame. There is a 170mm bottle green border and a single piece of mid brown synthetic for the backing. The padding is probably dacron.
2400 x 2100mm
2400 x 2100mm
The quilt is a repeat block in the Ohio Star pattern in turkey red and cream. Quilted in squares in the cream block and diagonal lines in the star block. The fabric border is disintegrating. The backing is cream calico and the padding is cotton, badly degraded. 1940 x 1760mm.
The top is mainly squares of flannel machined together with patches of dress materials stitched randomly on top. There is no padding and the backing is calico. The top and backing are held together by a binding only. It is one of a pair.
2010 x 1680mm
2010 x 1680mm
Patchwork quilt featuring centre block of log cabin surrounded by borders. Handsewn. Wide variety of materials including some velvet. Appliqued flowers.
1703 x 1575mm
1703 x 1575mm
Patchwork quilt has a centre of a square within a square, with rows of scraps added around it. The scraps are mainly cotton shirting fabrics and are cut in different sizes and shapes. The two long sides have a narrow red edging folded from the back. The other two sides have been 'bagged'. Filling is an unusual weave thought to be wool. Backing is a pink, red and beige floral cotton.
2080 x 1650mm
2080 x 1650mm