Quilt No.683NTV - National Trust of Australia (VIC)

National Trust of Australia (VIC)
Owner: 
National Trust of Australia (VIC)
Location: 
VIC Melbourne
Maker
Maker: 
Mrs Radin
Made in
AUSTRIA
Date: 
1851 - 1880
Description: 
Woollen patchwork, mostly 17mm squares, in a heavy closely woven felt like material in red, black, yellow, blue, green and pink. Some larger motifs of pieced stars and crosses, some outlined with a narrow appliqued braid. There is no padding apparent. The backing is a khaki coloured cotton twill fabric. It may originally have had a border or fringe, now removed.
2280 x 1380mm
History: 

The quilt was probably made by Mrs. Radin in Austria pre the 1880s. It was donated to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) by L.Radin, grandson of the maker, in 1978.
The quilt is stored in the National Trust costume and textile store Melbourne.

Story: 

"Known as the 'Indian Army Quilt' because some of its colours are said to be the regimental colours of the Indian Army.
Donated to National Trust in 1978 by Mr. L.Radin of Brighton, Victoria. The quilt was made by his grandmother in Austria or Dubrovnik. She gave it to her son Frank Radin, who was a sail maker in Launceston, after arriving from Dubrovnik in ca 1885-1890. He had the quilt with him and brought it to Melbourne in 1901 - his son was L.Radin, donor. Some sources say Frank Radin brought the quilt incomplete to Australia and finished it himself, and that he moved to Melbourne in 1922."
[Belinda Nemec, Manager of Collections, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) 9.2.2000]

Related Quilts:

Beryl Warne
The quilt's construction is cotton patches about 170mm square joined in strips and then the strips joined. The border and backing are pale lemon coloured cotton lawn. The padding is an old woollen blanket. There is ric-rac braid around the border of the top.
2180 x 1420mm
Marion Coleman
Quilt made of Tailors' wool samples in stripes, checks and plain,, rectangles in different sizes machined together in strips. Colours are grey, navy, brown, light grey and cream. Lining or backing is of patterned cotton, in three layers as it has worn and been replaced. Machine and zigzag quilting.
1626 x 1271mm
Barbara McCabe
Patchwork quilt made from rectangles and squares of woollen fabrics from dress making projects. Colours are mainly grey, blue, brown, green, with some red and yellow. Fabrics are plain, cheks and stripes. No padding or quilting. Backing is made of white flannelette sheets. The quilt has been lengthened after it was completed, and the backing sheet has been added to at the same place.
2470 x 1320mm
Mare Carter
Patchwork quilt. All cotton with cotton filling. Entirely made of hexagons, patterned and plain. 6 hexagons surround a central one. Colours, red, blue, yellow and white. Hnad stitched and hand quilted.
2108 x 1702mm
Wendy McPhail
Repeat block in Ohio star pattern. Wide border of triangles, pieced blocks and stripes. Stars are in greens, pinks, mauves (all now very faded) and white. Wreath quilting in squares with smaller wreath quilting in triangles. There is padding and the backing is a poly/cotton sheet. 2500 x 2450mm
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