Quilt No.652NG - Norma Gilchrist

Norma Gilchrist
Owner: 
Norma Gilchrist
Location: 
NSW Riverina
Maker
Maker: 
Esther Anne Henley
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Patterms
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Typically Australian, Motifs or Names
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Cotton cot quilt in checkerboard pattern. 30 squares each 180mm machined together. Alternate squares have Australian birds fancyworked in stem stitch and chain stitch using 2 threads of coloured stranded cotton. Alternate squares are plain royal blue and there is a royal blue border 120mm wide. The backing is the same royal blue cotton.
1340 x 1070mm
This is an Adelaide Chronicle pattern reprinted in 'The Weekly Times'.
History: 

This quilt was made by Esther Anne Henley in Temora NSW c.1930. It was made for her grand-daughter Norma (later Gilchrist) or her grandson Ken or both. It is owned by Norma who used it for her children but put it away about 1966 when it showed signs of wear.

Story: 

Esther Anne Henley (1863-1939) was Norma Gilchrist's maternal grandmother. She and her husband Benjamin came from South Australia to the town of Temora NSW about 1927 where Benjamin practised his trade as a carpenter. They had 13 children. 2 of the boys drowned together in a creek in South Australia and the other children were adults when the move to Temora was made.
Norma, the present owner, recalled her mother telling her the birds were a series in the Weekly Times and that Esther's brother Les had traced them for her.

Esther Anne Henley, seated, c.1930
Esther Anne Henley, seated, c.1930

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