Quilt No.734MF - Maria Finlayson

Maria Finlayson
Owner: 
Maria Finlayson
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Margaret Smith
Made in
AUSTRALIA Sydney
Patterms
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
Crazy patch with frame centre set on point; worked in silks. Surrounding area pieced mainly in velvets and corduroys, with some more silks. A wide border of bright turquoise corduroy. Seams are covered with feather stitch. Quilt includes boy sout badge, union jack badge, Indian type medallion and initials 'IOR' in metallic thread. There is no padding and it is backed with green gingham.
1730 x 1325mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Margaret Smith (1857-1950) probably in Sydney and probably in the 1920s or 1930s. The quilt was owned in the past by Victoria Caines (maker's daughter) then Walter and June Caines (maker's grandson) and now Maria Finlayson, great-grand-daughter of the maker.

Story: 

"My Father (maker's grandson) was in the Boyt Scouts, so I suspect the Scout badge on the quilt was his. Margaret Smith was the generation that was devoted to the royal family and thought of England as the Mother country, though they were born and bred in Australia and had never been there. This could explain the union jack.
She had a hard life. She returned to Australia with her only child (my grandmother) after some time in New Zealand. Her husband was supposed to meet her on the wharf but her didn't show up and was never heard of again. She worked as a cleaner to support herself and her daughter. She was a strict Methodist and a very gentle person. My father had very fond memories of his tiny grandmother."
[Maria Finlayson 28.4.00]

Margaret Smith c.1940
Margaret Smith c.1940

Related Quilts:

Mare Carter
Quilt No.58MC - Mare Carter
Quilt of alternate green and fawn squares (100mm) in knitted fabric, originally swatches of sample fabrics. Padding is a piece of old blanket. Backing is fawn flannelette, and the quilt is finished with a flannelette ruffle.
1423 x 1124mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square
Patricia Cmielewski
Quilt No.291PC - Patricia Cmielewski
Crazy patchwork quilt made from silk and cotton fabrics, in patterns and plains, in bright colours. Patches are arranged around a central diamond shaped patch in yellow which is bordered with light blue. All seams are covered with featherstitch and herringbone stitch. Patches were stitched onto a calico backing. A recent calico backing ahs been added and dark blue binding attached to the edge. No padding.
1555 x 910mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random, Crazy
National Gallery of Australia
Quilt No.977NGA - National Gallery of Australia
" A wide range of cotton fabrics have been used to make this quilt in the traditional log cabin style. The strips of the log cabin are joined by rows being hand sewn onto a small square backing fabric, each square of strips has then been hand sewn together to form the quilt. The work is backed with a sateen printed fabric decorated with paisley design. A strip of the lining trims the edge of the front face of the quilt. The lining is attached with machine stitching. There are numerous tacking stitches that remain in the front face of the quilt. There are approx 9000 pieces in the quilt, most being only 5mm in width.
The quilt is of three layers because the strips of the log cabin are attached to a backing piece, and then the quilt is lined; however it is not padded." [NGA]
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Log Cabin
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Quilt No.595PWH - The Pioneer Women's Hut
Double sided utility quilt made from machine pieced squares of tailors' samples and men's and boy's suitings. The padding is 5 or 6 layers of pieced used clothing including darned, threadbare socks, part jumpers, blanket pieces etc.
2090 x 1340mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
National Trust of Australia (SA)
Quilt No.297NTA - National Trust of Australia (SA)
Patchwork frame quilt made from cotton prints. Quilt centre has four pieced squares set within a star shaped border of square patches, set within a square frame (74cm square) edged with half triangles, then set within a red frame (114cm x 114 cm), diamond shaped or 'on point'. In the 4 triangles are double diamond shapes, then a wide border of squares and 'square within a square' patches with red triangles. Red binding. Padding is probably wool. Backing is a cotton print in browns in a floral paisley. All over quilting. Handsewn.
1880 x 1850mm
Patchwork, Frame
Nancy Dunlap
Quilt No.1097ND - Nancy Dunlap
Quilt top in block design based on hexagons in a variety of patterned cotton with a plain pink hexagon in the centre. The hexagons are linked by triangles of pink cotton. Cottons include florals, stripes, checks, tartans and novelty prints. 2080 x 2300mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block