Quilt No.26WAM - Western Australian Museum
Owner:
Western Australian Museum
Location:
WA Perth
Maker
Maker:
Unknown
Made in
AUSTRALIA
Patterms
Date:
1881 - 1900
Description:
Possum skin rug constructed from 24 rectangular pieces hand stitched to a dark brown felt backing and couched on other side to faded blue silk tape. 19 possum tails similarly attached to felt backing dangle around 3 sides of the rug. All felt edges are scalloped.
1500 x 1200mm
History:
The rug belonged to Jane Waldeck who was the donor's great grandmother, then to her daughter May Ena Hill, then to her daughter Phyllis McMillan, who recalled being covered up with the rug while riding in her grandmother's phaeton in Melbourne. Ownership continued by maternal descent to Phyllis' daughter Meg Newstead who donated it to the West Australian Museum. It was used between 1890 and the 1980s.
Related Quilts:
Kangaroo skin cloak of seven gores is made from the skins of seven grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus). The skins vary in size and shape, the inner five are roughly triangular. The cloak is edged with a series of loops, through one of these near the collar is a piece of cloth which appears to have tied the cloak together. The skins are sewn together with two sorts of linen or cotton thread. In a small diamond-shaped gusset at the back of the neck there are some stitches of sinew. The skins are sewn together by means of a small hem which was turned back on to the fur, so stitches went through two layers of skin on each gore. There are some small holes in the skins. The skins are very soft and pliable, and greyish in colour; they vary in size and shape.
Longest part: 800mm
Ref: MA Thesis 1973, S.Meagher 'A Reconstruction of the Traditional Life of the Aborigines of the S.W. of Western Australia.
Kangaroo skin rug featuring skins cut in diamond shapes. It is stitched with heavy cotton and the seams are oversewn. It is not backed.
1825 x 1290mm
Kangaroo skin rug made from 450 x 270mm pieces overstitched together. The backing is a wholecloth plaid in red brought to the front and machine stitched to form a 60mm binding.
1660 x 1400mm
Small possum skin rug with the centre area greyish skins and 2 narrow borders of reddish brown and dark brown pelts. The skins are hand sewn with white thread. The backing is woollen material, light brown with dark brown woven stripe.
1380 x 1040mm
Possum skin rug with 6 rows of 7 skins. The backing is red felt with a border showing and peaked edge.
1680 x 1460mm
Opossum pelts cut into rectangles and joined. The top is piped in red felt and the backing is red felt with a double scalloped edge.
1640 x 1210mm