Quilt No.989TL - Thelma Lithgow

Thelma Lithgow
Owner: 
Thelma Lithgow
Location: 
SA
Maker
Maker: 
Margaret Clucas
Made in
SHIPBOARD England
Date: 
1881 - 1900
Description: 
Repeat block quilt top based on hexagons, each 350 mm diameter. Six hexagons and a centre one make a 'flower' and these are set in rows against a plain calico background. Patterned cotton fabrics are used for the hexagons, small prints, fine stripes and tiny flowers. As it is a quilt top only, there is no lining or padding. 2100 x 1800 mm
History: 

The quilt top was made by Margaret Clucas in 1882 on the ship 'Potosi' travelling from the Isle of Man to Australia. It was then owned by her daughter, Mona Harvey (born Clucas) and then her grand-daughter Thelma Muriel Mona Lithgow born 1909.

Story: 

"Margaret Clucas nee Lewin, born Isle of Man 1834, married John Clucas and migrated to Australia via England, travelling on the cargo passenger ship the 'Potosi' 1882. While travelling on the 'Potosi' Margaret made the quilt top but it was never backed. John and Margaret Clucas were both school teachers and were quickly registered in their profession on arrival in St. Australia, Constantly moving around in difficult conditions occupied all their spare time. Hence the quilt was never completed. The hexagon papers were old letters but they have disintegrated over time." [Yvonne Daniel]

John and Margaret Clucas
John and Margaret Clucas

Related Quilts:

National Trust of Australia (QLD)
Hexagons appliqued onto sheeting. 5 groups of 6 hexagons in centre of sheet and continuous row of hexagon rosettes around border.
2261mm x 1664mm
Annette Gero
Hand pieced hexagon quilt or table cover with centre motif of hexagons within hexagons. The remainder of the quilt is mainly hexagon rosettes. The materials are silks and brocades and it is pieced over papers in the English tradition.
1710 x 1600mm
Celia Dolley
Cotton scrap quilt with shapes of diamonds, strip and squares. The quilt has been repaired using machine zig zag in white cotton. There is no padding and the backing is calico.
2175 x 1625mm
Margery Smith
Patchwork cot quilt made from hexagons 63mm across in a variety of cotton prints and plains. The bright coloured patches came from children's clothes and dressmaking scraps. No padding. Backing of unbleached calico. Hand sewn.
1524 x 1169mm
National Trust of Australia (WA)
Quilt of pale yellow cotton sateen with a centre star motif with 8 points in pink cotton sateen. A border of pink cotton sateen has pink triangles on each side. The quilt is machine sewn and elaborately hand quilted with designs including fleur-de-lys shape, feathers, vine pattern, clam shells, 8 petalled flower and cable pattern with the main ground cross hatched. The backing is pale yellow cotton sateen.
2235 x 2065mm
The Queensland Women's Historical Assoc.
Cotton quilt , octagons of printed floral joined with squares of printed and plain. Yellow floral border. Cotton backing with very intrictae pattern in machine stitching.
2540 x 2490mm