Quilt No.499AG - Anne Griffin

Anne Griffin
Owner: 
Anne Griffin
Location: 
VIC South West
Maker
Maker: 
Norma Griffin
Made in
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
The quilt is constructed from 64 x 35mm rectangles of printed cottons possibly samples as there are several colourways of some patterns. The pieces have been sewn together in rows and then the rows joined. There is no padding and the backing is khaki desoutti.
1655 x 945mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Norma Griffin (1925-1997) in 1949 in Papua New Guinea. It was made for decoration in their typical bamboo house in Saidor. In 1951 the family came to Australia and Norma brought the quilt with her. It is now owned by her daughter Anne. It is not used.

Story: 

"The quilt was made during the first half of 1949 by my mother, Norma Griffin, aged 24, at Saidor in New Guinea, which was Australian Mandated Territory at the time. My parents were both from Ballarat, Victoria, and had gone to New Guinea as newlyweds in 1947 where my father was stationed as a patrol officer. Saidor was their first posting��.I have been able to date the quilt because mum wrote a book about her experiences in New Guinea and I hope to do something about publishing it next year. She died in November 1997 and so far it has been too difficult for me to do anything about the book.
When we were packing up her sewing room in July 1997 mum had earmarked the quilt for the rubbish bag. Of course I said, no way, the quilt was a record of her times and important to keep despite its poor condition��.Mum had kept the quilt for nearly 50 years , I think to remember her happy days. She had unpicked the centre and the bottom edges in order to mend it. In fact, somewhere amongst her things I think I have a handful of shredded cotton from the centre. I wouldn't let her throw that out either.
I am so glad mum kept the quilt and she would be so pleased to receive some recognition of her work and her life as a true pioneer woman in extraordinary circumstances." [Anne Griffin October 1999]
The materials for the quilt were given to the maker Norma Griffin by Father Wald the priest at the catholic mission at Eumbi near where the family lived. They had been donated to him by friends in the USA. The backing material, khaki lap lap (desoutti) was left over from WW2.

Norma Griffin's house at Saidor PNG
Norma Griffin's house at Saidor PNG
Norma Griffin with baby Anne 1951
Norma Griffin with baby Anne 1951

Related Quilts:

The Queensland Women's Historical Assoc.
Wool patches in large Tumbling Block pattern. Plain colours, blues, orange, gree, red. Seams are over embroidered with silk thread in herringbone stitch. Backing is 'Molleton', red with yellow pansy design.
2490 x 2236mm
Heather Roobol
Patchwork quilt has three centre squares, one in blue/white/brown in a cross pattern, one in framed square, one with diagonal strips in a pink frame. The rest of the quilt is made from strips of rectangles in different sizes sewn in rows. There is a narrow pieced frame, then an outer border of pieced rectangles. Mostly pastel colours. No padding. Backing is calico. There is a little embroidery.
2160 x 1601mm
Julianne Humphris
Patchwork quilt of hand sewn hexagons in a variety of print and plain cotton fabrics from 1950-1960. Colours are mainly pinks, blues, greens and yellow, with some red, and white. Quilt has a wide border of yellow poplin, which also forms the backing. No padding.
2280 x 1520mm
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Patchwork quilt, machine construction in pink and white twill cotton, log cabin pattern. Each log cabin block was constructed with the backing in place, in groups of 4 blocks placed together. Each block 200mm in size.
2300 x 2050mm
Red Cliffs Historical Society
Pieced construction, repeat block format, American Blue Grass pattern. Hand stitched and quilted with a machined edge. Mauve check stars, 8 points, surrounded by 16 point stars in yellow floral. One star per block plus green squares and red strips. The background is yellow cotton and so is the backing. There is a dacron type padding.
1980 x 1740mm
The Pioneer Women's Hut
The quilt is constructed from machine pieced diamond shaped striped flannel materials. The backing is the same. The padding is not visible but is thought to be worn out woollen clothing, unpicked and ironed flat.
1520 x 970mm