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:

Janine and Eva Chick
Hexagon quilt, hand sewn, using a wide variety of patterned and plain cotton scraps left over from dressmaking. 6 hexagons are placed around a centre one. There is no padding. The backing is brown flannel turned over to the front with hexagons hand stitched to it.
1220 x 763mm
Margaret Knoop
Quilt top of cottons including shirting materials constructed in kaleidoscope pattern with star border. Hand pieced over papers, some papers remain at edges. There is no padding and no backing.
2440 x 1720mm
Valinda Gale
Patchwork quilt made from squares of cotton prints in florals, stripes, spots and checks, joined together in rows. Colours are predominantly blues, reds, yellow and pastels. Binding is of turquoise blue fabric. Materials appear to be from the 40s or 50s. Patches caught in the middle with a woollen knot - red, yellow, blue wool. No quilting. Backed in blue fleecy flannel.
Single bed length and width.
Margery Creek
Medallion style all cotton quilt made in the USA. Hand pieced with centre panel of 'cheater' material pre printed in a patchwork design. Bordered with 'Nine Patch' and sashing. The backing is printed cotton and the padding is cotton. The quilt has yellow tufting or ties in wool.
1855 x 1525mm
Barbara McCabe
"A single bed cover made up of squares and recrangles of woollen fabric pieced together by a Vicker Sewing Machine from Myer Melbourne. The fabrics are either new (left over scraps) or used (unpicked woollen garments). The backing is an old (used) candlewick bedspread. There is no padding. It is faded and worn due to being used for other purposes later. There is a 66 cm high clown that ahs been appliqued on mainly by hand using blanket stitch. It is also made from scraps of fabric. The hands were cut from an old felt hat."
2400mm x 1660mm
Margaret Hedges
Crazy patchwork quilt with small patches in velvet, silk, brocade and cottons most with hand embroidery over the seams. There are many motifs such as flowers, butterflies, birds also dates, initials and names of local properties. It is padded with a thin soft material and the replacement backing (old) is satin. There is a wide rose coloured frill on all sides.
1680 x 1380mm