Quilt No.205BJ - Bev Johnston

Bev Johnston
Owner: 
Bev Johnston
Location: 
VIC Northern
Maker
Maker: 
Charlotte Gambold
Made in
AUSTRALIA VIC
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Patchwork quilt made from squares and rectangles of pink, blue and white fabric set with a frame of pink and white print around a centre rectangle made of 4 pink triangles. Four corner squares of blue and white stripes, Many squares are pieced from smaller scraps. The Material is a crepe type, possibly used for underwear. Handsewn and machined. Backing is made from cotton scraps, possibly lawn or similar. Padding is flanellete or similar. Edges are bound in a striped material. Quilt shows signs of wear.
620mm x 520mm
History: 

Made by Charlotte Gambold, in Wangaratta, probably in the late 1930s. Used as a cot or pram blanket by Mrs Elizabeth Bennett (Charlotte's neice by marriage), and given to the current owner Margaret Wright by her grandmother Elizabeth Bennett. It is not known whether the quilt was given to, or bought by Mrs Bennett.

Story: 

"Charlotte Gambold was born in 1850 and died in 1951 at the age of 93 years [sic]. She belonged to a family of twelve children � The family eventually settled in Everton on a property called 'Hill View'. Charlotte did not marry and retired to Wangaratta in 1939 with her brother Isaac and sister Emily. They lived in Docker Street in a house between Grey Street and Green Street (the house no longer exists).
Charlotte was part of the community of Everton, in particular involved with the Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for over sixty years, walking three miles to Church each week.
It is believed Charlotte made quilts to sell to supplement the family's income, particularly after retirement as there was no Aged Pensions. In the past many family members slept under her quilts bought from her.
Charlotte died in June 1951 and is buried int eh Wangaratta Cemetery, with her brother Isaac who had died four years previously.
[Bev Johnston 8.10.97]

Charlotte Gambold
Charlotte Gambold

Related Quilts:

Barbara McCabe
Patchwork quilt made from rectangles and squares of woollen fabrics from dress making projects. Colours are mainly grey, blue, brown, green, with some red and yellow. Fabrics are plain, cheks and stripes. No padding or quilting. Backing is made of white flannelette sheets. The quilt has been lengthened after it was completed, and the backing sheet has been added to at the same place.
2470 x 1320mm
Kaniva District Historical Society
Crazy patchwork quilt, mostly velvet, with two rectangular frames or borders of green fabric. All patchwork pieces have embroidery over the seams, mostly herringbone. Quilt is edged with a cream cotton ruffle. Cotton backing.
1625 x 1625mm
National Gallery of Australia
"This quilt follows the traditional hexagon patchwork pieced pattern, which are then joined and sometimes edged with a contrasting border. The edges of the quilt have been turned and then scalloped edges made of identical patches to the main body of the quilt have been attached to the edge. The quilt is fully lined, and the lining is visible front the front face through the gaps between the scalloped edge. The lining is attached to the patchwork with a row of stitches along the edges; there are no stitches in the centre field. The fabrics of the quilt are plain weave cotton in simple floral and geometric designs. Most of the fabrics are monochromatic. Several different colour ways of the same fabric are evident which could suggest some fabrics were from manufacturer samples. The lining is a William Morris print.
Each of the patchwork pieces (there are several thousand present) are sewn together with very fine overcasting stitches. The quilt is entirely hand sewn. There is some evidence that templates from the hexagon pieces possibly blotting paper, remain in situ���The quilt is not padded or quilted. The lining is fine twill weave cotton printed in pink and pale purple. The design follows William Morris's 'Strawberry Thief design'." [NGA] 2075 x 1911mm
The Queensland Women's Historical Assoc.
Frame quilt in cotton with cotton backing. Centre square of floral chintz surrounded by 8 smaller squares with floral and probably Egyptian motifs. 4 surrounding frames of plain and patterned cotton in squares, diamonds and strips. Hand stitched and hand quilted. Has been used as a curtain and has metal rings attached to one edge.
3759 x 2286mm
Irma Whitford
Pieced repeat block in 'Dresden Plate' pattern in a variety of fabrics with pink and pale blue predominating. Scalloped outer edge. Machine pieced and hand quilted, with echo quilting of four petals between the 'Dresden Plates'. The padding is polyester, and the backing is white calico. 2600 x 1630 mm.
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
The body of this quilt is hexagons. This centre piece is surrounded by an applique border of birds and flowers and donkeys on see-saws. The flowers have been elaborately pieced from a great variety of materials. Some of the birds have pres studs for eyes.