Quilt No.780NL - National Library of Australia

Owner: 
National Library of Australia
Location: 
ACT
Made in
AUSTRALIA WA
Patterms
Patchwork, Frame
Date: 
pre 1850
Description: 
Patchwork quilt with centre frame of 4 pointed starwith radiating borders of pieced squares and rectangles. Materials are cottons and some linen and it is constructed using the English hand piecing method. There is no padding and it is backed with cotton sheeting joined by machine so it is a later addition.
1400 x 1050mm
History: 

The quilt was made in Western Australia c.1845 by aboriginal children under the instruction of Miss Elizabeth Irwin. In 1854 the family returned to England and the quilt was kept there by a former family nursemaid, Jane Nixon. It passed to Mrs. Mary Willis ( a friend) in 1921 and much later was donated to the National Library of Australia by Mrs. Willis together with a letter detailing what she knew about the hsitory of the quilt.

Story: 

According to Mrs. Willis the quilt was made by aboriginal children at the Swan River settlement WA under the direction of Miss Elizabeth Irwin who it is thought may have taught the children sewing, reading and given them religious instruction.
Elizabeth Irwin was the neice of Colonel Frederick Irwin commandant of Western Australia and sometimes acting Governor of the colony.

Related Quilts:

N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
Quilt No.559NPW - N.S.W. Parks and Wildlife Service
The top has a segmented circle in the centre surrounded by a border of small rectangles. The circle is featherstitched on to the background. Materials are wools and cottons and it is hand pieced. The other side appears to have been originally men's suiting materials strip pieced. It is now covered with a children's print in light cotton joined in long rectangles. The padding is coarse heavyweight cotton.
1410 x 1080mm
Patchwork, Frame
Marjorie Treasy
Quilt No.689MT - Marjorie Treasy
Machine sewn quilt made from 125mm squares of scraps left over from dressmaking joined in strips and then the strips joined. There is a border of fawn cotton and the backing is the same material. The padding is an old blanket and the border is padded with sheep's wool.
1400 x 925mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square
Hazel Jarmyn
Quilt No.284HJ - Hazel Jarmyn
Patchwork quilt made from cotton hexagon patches in the 'grandmother's Flower Garden' pattern, in bright prints and plains, with cream 'paths' made from dress material. Padding is flannel sheeting, and backing is the same cream material as the 'paths'. The centre of the 'flower' patches are autographed with friends' names and dates, as are some 'petals' and cream patches, in black ink.
1550 x 1400mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
Cressida Mary Webb Challis
Quilt No.390CC - Cressida Mary Webb Challis
Quilt of machine pieced squares and rectangles using a wide variety of materials in plain colours and patterns. It is one of a pair. There is no padding and the backing is 90cm strips of calico.
2500 x 2130mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random
Win Oliver
Quilt No.203WO - Win Oliver
Crazy patchwork quilt made from silk, brocade and velvet pieces, the seams covered with feather stitching in yellow silk. Fabrics are plain, and patterned with tartans, woven spots, stripes and floral brocade. Colours are rich, mainly red, pink, blue, green and cream. Quilt has a patterned velvet or velour border with urns and flowers in pale olive green and black, edged with a fringe in these colours.
1090 x 1040mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy
Tricia Bowdler
Quilt No.580TB - Tricia Bowdler
Small patchwork piece in crazy patchwork in silks, satins, and velvets. Embroidered initials 'A.N' also an embroidered crest, the date 1869 with initials 'A.W.N'. There is also decorative stitching over the joins of most pieces. It is not padded. The backing is Jacquard.
661 a 649mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy