Quilt No.962NGA - National Gallery of Australia

Owner: 
National Gallery of Australia
Location: 
ACT
Maker
Maker: 
Frances Baker
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Patterms
Patchwork, Mosaic, Square, Rectangle
Date: 
1921 - 1940
Description: 
The front face of this quilt consists of rows of rectangles and squares of multicoloured prints pieced together. The fabrics are cotton and include a few early synthetics such as rayon, and all work is machined. The back is fully lined with an olive green moire synthetic fabric. The lining has been brought around to the front face of the quilt for approx 5cm to provide an edge border. The quilt is a wonderful showcase of the fabrics of the 20's and 30's." [NGA]
The quilt is not padded. 2160 x 1910 mm
History: 

The quilt was made by Frances Baker in Granville NSW. The National Gallery of Australia purchased it from its owner in NSW in 1992.

Story: 

"Mrs. Frances Baker nee Garnett (1879-1958) was born in Yorkshire, Great Britain and died in Granville, New South Wales. Her parents came to Australia in 1883 and, two years later, Frances and her brother arrived to join them. The family settled in Parramatta.
In 1908 Frances married Edward A. Baker of Granville. Rheumatic fever contracted in 1912 left Frances with a severe arthritic condition. Frances continued to sew, using one of the earliest electric sewing machines that she had bought before her marriage and later, had fitted with a knee control. She could handle small pieces of material and thus the patchwork quilts came into being. Frances used the leftovers from various dresses and she made all her quilts by 1938. This work was made in Granville.

Related Quilts:

La Dona Anick
Quilt No.1086LDA - La Dona Anick
Red and white cross stitch quilt. Central white panel with red cross stitch embroidery featuring flowers and leaves. Red panels as borders with white embroidery, also flowers and leaves. Machine pieced. Hand quilted in an espalier pattern. There is a fine padding and the backing is homespun. 2200 x 1970mm
Patchwork, Pieced Random
Ruth Flett
Quilt No.182RF - Ruth Flett
Quilt is made of wool tailors' samples, each measuring 6 x 3 1/2 inches. The colours are predominantly navy and grey. Most pieces are striped but some more distinctly than others. Both sides are mad eof smaples, one side being mainly grey and the other almost exclusively navy. There doesn't seem to be another layer of material as padding. There is no added decoration. Made on a treadle sewing machine.
1703 x 1423mm
Patchwork, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
Fay Burgess
Quilt No.381FB - Fay Burgess
Hexagonal piece of patchwork made up of 9 rows of rosettes of hexagons in a wide variety of colours and patterns mainly in silks and velvets. It is incomplete. Backing papers are still in the outside rows and also basting threads. Hexagons are joined by fine whip stitching. It is unlined.
1370 x 1220mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Hexagon
Ann Hockey
Quilt No.355AH - Ann Hockey
Patchwork quilt made from rectangles of samples of men's woollen suitings, in greys and blues and some browns. The rectangles were machine sewn together and then sewn in rows or strips. Originally the quilt had a rabbit skin backing, removed due to deterioration. No padding. Machine sewn.
1550 x 1420mm
Patchwork, Mosaic, Rectangle, Typically Australian, Tailors' samples
The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
Quilt No.931ESA - The Embroiderers' Guild of S.A.Inc Museum
This Adelaide Chronicle wildflower quilt has alternating squares of green and fawn headcloth embroidered with Australian wildflowers on the fawn squares and stylised floral motifs on the green squares. It is bordered and backed with the same green material. It is padded.
2350 x 1530mm
Patchwork, Pieced Repeat Block, Typically Australian, Motifs or Names
Brenda Bird
Quilt No.1055BB - Brenda Bird
Suffolk Puff quilt made from a variety of scraps of dress materials including cottons and terylene. It is backed with white cotton sheeting and edged with a frill of white terylene. There is a matching pillow sham.
1740 x 1300 mm.
Patchwork, Suffolk Puff