Quilt No.341ER - Ralph Parkes

Owner: 
Ralph Parkes
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Unknown
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Patterms
Pieced Animal skins, Exotic Animals
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Rug made from 60 rabbit skins. Backing is brown flannel. The rug has a scalloped edge in brown flannel. 2100 x 1400mm
History: 

Made about 1935 by a furrier in Sydney from skins provided by Ralph Parkes. Previously owned by his mother Elizabeth Caroline Parkes (Mrs Percy Parkes) and used at Lindfield (NSW) from the 1930s to the late 1950s. Owned by Ralph Parkes.

Story: 

"The quilt was made as [a] deal with a skin dealer in Sydney about 1935. Ralph Parkes trapped and shot a chaff bag full of dried rabbit skins. Skins ran about 4 to the lb and were worth about 3/- to 4/- lb . The dealer tanned 60 large skins (there is debate as to if the dealer made the rug or if extra money was paid to have the rug made from the tanned skins. Completed rug was given to his mother Mrs Percy Parkes �
My father collected the skins while he was jackarooing, his father organized the deal with the skin dealer and the quilt was given to his mother my grandmother. The quilt is very heavy. Too heavy to comfortably sleep under."
[Elizabeth Roberts 11.11.97]

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