Quilt No.36KHS - Kalamunda & District Historical Society Inc.

Owner: 
Kalamunda & District Historical Society Inc.
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Laura Harrison's grandmother
Made in
ENGLAND
Date: 
pre 1850
Description: 
"�..quilt of silk hexagonal patches with a velvet panel as the centrepiece with petit point embroidery. The silk materials are a valuable source of textile history being very variable in weaves and patterns. The patchwork templates are still in situ and are of a ? linen gauze. The whole quilt is backed with mercerised cotton."
[Maggie Myers 21.5.1986]
2650 x 2330mm
History: 

The quilt was made by the aunt of Mrs Sarah Edith Hode, the grandmother of Laura Harrison. The aunt was a milliner to Queen Victoria's court. The tradition was to hand the quilt down to the eldest daughter, but in the last generation it came to the younger daughter.
Donated to Kalamunda & District Historical Society [WA] by the owner Mrs Laura Harrison.

Story: 

"Information received from Mrs. Elizabeth Trainer��on 12 August 1985, the sister of the donor Mrs. Laura Harrison�..'The qult was sent out to WA in 1912 to Mrs Sarah Edith Hode (nee Horne), Mrs Trainer's grandmother. Mrs Hode was given the quilt by her aunt who had made it and was a milliner to Queen Victoria's court. She had made the quilt out of remnants of ladies of the court's dresses. The velvet embroidered centrepiece was a piece left over from the making of the coronation footstool thus dating the quilt to around 1837. The quilt had traditionally been handed down to the eldest daughter in the family but in the last case was given to Mrs Harison the younger daughter. The family remember the quilt being stored in a blue pillowcase and being brought on very special occasions.' "
[Maggie Myers 21.5.1986 for K.D.H.S.Inc]

Related Quilts:

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.
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Mrs Joan McGregor
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