History
The quilt was made by Mary Ann Brunton. She began the quilt in 1873 at Sandhurst near Bendigo, Victoria. In 1990 the National Gallery of Australia purchased the quilt by auction at Sotheby's London. It is believed to have been in the possession of Mary Brunton's descendants until this time. "Mary Ann Brunton (Australia born 1851-Australia died 1930) began making the quilt in 1873, when she was living at Sandhurst near Bendigo, VIC. Mary Ann was a dressmaker and the fabrics in the centre of the quilt were saved from other jobs. The quilt was not finished until 1887 after she and her family of eight children moved to Swan Hill VIC. This quilt is the only known one made by Mrs Brunton and she entered it into ten Agricultural Fairs in the Kerang district between 1888-1897 winning first place each time. The National Gallery of Australia has some of the prize certificates from these competitions." [NGA]
Description
"A medallion or framed quilt in design. There is a central field of small patchwork diamonds and from this radiates plain stripes of fabric bordering areas of patchwork panels. The edge of the quilt carries bands of red cotton, which are slightly larger at the top and bottom edges and here the band is additionally decorated with appliqué diamonds. The fabric of the patchwork is cotton in fine plain weave of pale coloured florals and small geometric designs. The framing and border stripes are of bright red twill weave cotton. The small diamonds of the central field are hand sewn, with more use of machine stitching around the outer edge of the quilt. The quilt is not padded. The patchwork is fully lined with a printed plain weave cotton fabric with a design commemorating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The design is based on a repeated grid of circles. In the centre of each circle is a cameo of Queen Victoria, surrounded by images of the national flowers of England, Scotland and Ireland: the rose, the thistle and the shamrock. The edge of the front face of the quilt is trimmed with a red and white cotton braid." [NGA]
2380 x 2220mm
