Quilt No.797RL - Richard Lawson
Owner:
Richard Lawson
Location:
ACT
Maker
Maker:
Jamestown Women
Made in
AUSTRALIA SA
Patterms
Date:
1881 - 1900
Description:
Rug of 24 dingo pelts varying in colour from honey gold to dark brown and joined in a random arrangement. The tails are attached to each square. The backing is navy blue felt with a scalloped edge.
1830 x 1650mm
History:
This rug was made by women in the Jamestown area in the mid north of S.A. in 1899/1900. It was presented to Inspector B.P.Hunt of the S.A. Police force as a token of appreciation and affection. It was owned by Betty Lawson who was the grand-daughterof Inspector Hunt and is now owned by Richard Lawson. It is not used at the present time but is likely to be used again.
Related Quilts:
Kangaroo skin cloak of seven gores is made from the skins of seven grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus). The skins vary in size and shape, the inner five are roughly triangular. The cloak is edged with a series of loops, through one of these near the collar is a piece of cloth which appears to have tied the cloak together. The skins are sewn together with two sorts of linen or cotton thread. In a small diamond-shaped gusset at the back of the neck there are some stitches of sinew. The skins are sewn together by means of a small hem which was turned back on to the fur, so stitches went through two layers of skin on each gore. There are some small holes in the skins. The skins are very soft and pliable, and greyish in colour; they vary in size and shape.
Longest part: 800mm
Ref: MA Thesis 1973, S.Meagher 'A Reconstruction of the Traditional Life of the Aborigines of the S.W. of Western Australia.
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1550 x 1550mm
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Diameter 1449mm
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3 fragments of koala bear skin joined with very fine stitching. Uneven edges. Thought to have been part of an aboriginal cloak or rug.