Advance Australia Quilt

History

The quilt was made by Mary Jane Hannaford about 1910 at Blanford, near Murrurundi, New South Wales. "There are seven known quilts initialled 'M.J.H.' five of which are owned by the National Gallery of Australia. The National Gallery of Australia purchased this quilt from a private collector, Sydney in 1982. Mary Jane Hannaford was born in Devonshire, England in 1840. She came to Australia on board the 'London', arriving in Sydney in March 1842. The family moved to Tamworth after the Australian Agricultural Company contracted her father as [a] shepherd. Her father died in 1852 when Mary was 12. Her Mother remarried two years later and they moved to Blanford near Murrurundi NSW. Mary Jane lived with her parents until they died and continued to live with her brother on the farm 'Balmoral'. She never married but had a daughter, Emily Agnes Hannaford who married George Cady in 1887. Mary Jane died in Blanford in 1930." [NGA]

Description

"The coverlet is of cream cheesecloth, highly decorated with applied figures and pieced fabric bands. The appliqué bands follow the edge of the coverlet for some time and then become circles radiating from the centre. The bands form two framed circular areas that carry appliquéd images. A smaller area lower centre of the cloth depicts birds and insects. In the centre of the work is a bordered oval with two aboriginal figures, an angel, kangaroo, emu and kookaburra, with the words 'Advance Australia Fair' embroidered in black thread. The stitching and construction of the coverlet is quite crude." [NGA] The quilt is not padded or lined.
1640 x 1550mm