Quilt No.726CK - Christina Kazaglis

Christina Kazaglis
Owner: 
Christina Kazaglis
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Maria Kazaglis
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Both sides of this wholecloth quilt are made from different floral cottons with a third pattern used to form borders. It is hand stitched and the quilting pattern is squares. The padding is raw cotton.
1740 x 1240mm
History: 

Maria Kazaglis made this quilt for herself in Marrickville Sydney c.1930. It is now owned by her daughter-in-law Christina Kazaglis. It is not used now.

Story: 

Maria's Quilt
Maria Kazaglis made this quilt for herself, in the 1930's, while living in the flat above their fruit shop in the inner Sydney suburb of Marrickville. This is a very long way from her 'topos' - Castellorizo, or its ancient name Megisiti, the tiny Greek island which holds such a significant place in Greek Australian history, because of the number of early Greek migrants who came from there. Today, more than 30,000 Australians attribute their origins to this 'dot' in the Aegean.
Maria's was a traditional family; her father, a priest, died tragically when only in his 50s, leaving the family in very difficult circumstances. Maria was one of several daughters who each had to be provided with a 'dowry' (prika), and she grew up learning to be very resourceful and with a wide range of domestic skills including, of course, the art of making a good paploma!
In 1924, Maria came to Australia - her husband Vassili and two of their children, having come earlier. The family settled in Port Pirie SA where, at that time, there were quite a number of men from Castellorizo working in the lead smelters. In the early 1930s, the family moved to Sydney where they became part of the existing Greek community. Maria continued as she had begun - a devout person who took seriously her Greek Orthodox faith.
In her latter years, Maria lived with son George and daughter-in-law Christina, whose quilt she had made back in the 1950s. Both quilts have seen many years of service with the succeeding generations of Kazaglis!"
[Written by Lula Saunders, adapted from interview 20 March 2000, for the National Quilt Register]

Related Quilts:

Yvonne Hamdorf
Wholecloth pram quilt with a top of pink cotton sateen, and the reverse is a more finely woven, ivory, fabric. All over quilting design as main feature, with stylised hearts, leaves and cross hatching. The padding is cotton batting. 870 x 660 mm.
John Tomkin
Hand stitched, cotton, appliquéd, quilt in a flower pattern on a plain background. Colours are shades of green, apricot and browns. This quilt was known as a 'Bride's Quilt'. Padding is thought to be layers of white fabric raised almost like a wadding. The backing is cotton material. 2470 x 2020 mm.
National Gallery of Australia
" A coverlet of 7 pieces of cream muslin. The edges of the work are secured at the top and sides with bands of green and floral strips. The lower edge has been turned and hemmed. The 'quilt' is highly decorated with bands and diamonds of appliqué fabric. The upper centre field is appliquéd with images depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden surrounded by trees and a variety of animals and insects. In the centre is a smaller appliquéd image of the manger with mangel and cows. The quilt is not signed or dated, but each of the imaged areas is accompanied by a descriptive text. The writing is executed in black chain stitch. Beads and sequins have been used to depict the eyes of some of the animals in the Garden of Eden. As with all of Mary Jane Hannaford's quilts all work is hand sewn and quite crude and coarse in execution. The quilt is not padded or lined." [NGA] 1810 x 1590mm
Angela Smith
Durham quilt made of cotton sateen, mainly gold on one side and yellow green on the other. Top, pillow fold, has been removed. The straight sides have tiny pin stripe added border. The quilting pattern is large tree of life (palm like), swags and cable on top and bottom border. Fill in is slightly elongated diamonds. 1880 x 1520mm
National Trust of Australia (SA)
Quilt made of white cotton net, embroidered or 'voided', with an all-over pattern of parrots perched on branches and flying around a flowering tree. There is a tufted effect on the edges of figures. The top has a centre panel with 2 side panels attached to match the pattern. Quilt is lined with white cotton, and edged with a white cotton fringe. There are 2 matching pillowshams. Handsewn.
11920 x 1830mm
Maria Ahilas
The quilt top is of rose-pink satin and the backing is a lighter pink cotton. The quilting pattern is a large central 'wheel' motif repeated from each corner like a fan. The centre 'wheel' is surrounded by a single feathered wreath and diamond fill pattern. Hand quilted. The padding is cotton wadding from cotton grown on Lesvos island.
2000 x 1600mm