Quilt No.960NGA - National Gallery of Australia

National Gallery of Australia
Owner: 
National Gallery of Australia
Location: 
ACT
Maker
Maker: 
Mary Ann Brunton
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Patterms
Patchwork, Frame
Date: 
1851 - 1880
Description: 
"A medallion or framed quilt in design. There is a central field of small patchwork diamonds, and from this radiates plain stripes of fabric bordering areas of patchwork panels. The edge of the quilt carries bands of red cotton, which are slightly larger at the top and bottom edges, and here the band is additionally decorated with appliqué diamonds. The fabric of the patchwork is cotton in fine plain weave of pale coloured florals and small geometric designs. The framing and border stripes are of bright red twill weave cotton. The small diamonds of the central field are hand sewn, with...
History: 

The quilt was made by Mary Ann Brunton. She began the quilt in 1873 at Sandhurst near Bendigo, Victoria. In 1990 the National Gallery of Australia purchased the quilt by auction at Sotheby's London. It is believed to have been in the possession of Mary Brunton's descendants until this time.

Story: 

"Mary Ann Brunton (Australia born 1851-Australia died 1930) began making the quilt in 1873, when she was living at Sandhurst near Bendigo, Victoria. Mary Ann was a dressmaker and the fabrics in the centre of the quilt were saved from other jobs. The quilt was not finished until 1887 after she and her family of eight children moved to Swan Hill. This quilt is the only known one made by Mrs. Brunton, and she entered it into ten Agricultural Fairs in the Kerang district between 1888-1897 winning first place each time. The National Gallery of Australia has some of the prize certificates from these competitions." [NGA]

Related Quilts:

The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
Quilt No.930ESA - The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
Wholecloth quilt in white cotton voile with alternating designs of Australian wildflowers worked in multi coloured cottons and shadow work. It is backed with yellow voile. There is no padding.
2010 x 1910mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Typically Australian, Motifs or Names
Elsie Shephard
Quilt No.721ES - Elsie Shephard
Double sided patchwork quilt/rug constructed from squares machined together in strips and then the strips joined. The squares average about 27cms. The materials are mainly woollens, fleck tweed, school jumpers, gren check, and chenille and all are from used clothing.
1800 x 1170mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square
Griffith Pioneer Park Museum
Quilt No.351GPM - Griffith Pioneer Park Museum
Patchwork quilt made from hexagon patches of cotton, silk, brocade, sateen and wool. Some silk patches are individually lined. Colours are mainly red, blues, purple, black, yellow and brown, with some pastels. Many silk patches have disintegrated, showing the paper templates. Quilt has a brown cotton inner lining, then a blue cotton backing, and is edged on the reverse with checked silk. Hand sewn by more than one person: one experienced sewer, one not so experienced.
1370 x 1170mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Fred Wood
Quilt No.194FW - Fred Wood
Patchwork quilt made from a variety of printed cottons over 70 prints, using shirting and dress fabrics, fabrics also from pyjamas, curtains, aprons, tablecloths. The centre medallion is a square within a square with white borders, the inner frame made of sawtooth triangles. This is surrounded by pieced triangles, square within a square and crosses. Outer frame of sawtooth triangles, and outer border pieced of squares and triangles. Colours are pinks, blues, burgundy and pastels, with floral, stripe and check prints. Lining of cotton. Backed with a printed cotton. Quilt is bound on all edges.
2430 x 2250mm
Patchwork, Frame
National Museum of Australia
Quilt No.891NMA - National Museum of Australia
A 'Farm Life Quilt' made from alternate squares of beige linen and brightly coloured cotton headcloth. The coloured squares are farm animals and birds in a variety of embroidery stitches. The beige squares have a cornucopia design embroidered in dark brown stem stitch. There is a wide border front and back of beige linen. The backing is brown and white check cotton. There is no padding.
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Quilt No.631PWH - The Pioneer Women's Hut
Double sided patchwork quilt. Machined squares and rectangles joined in strips and then the strips joined. Wide variety of materials, mainly woollen from hand or machine knitted jumpers, many patched. All materials came from worn garments from family and friends of the maker. No padding.
1860 x 1410mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square