The quilt is made using the English Paper method. This is a very precise method of hand sewing whereby each patch is basted over a paper template to ensure that every piece will be precisely the same shape and size.

The fabrics used (checks, florals, chintz, Prince of Walesfeather design) indicate that the quilt may have been made earlier than when it was exhibited in 1877. The simple hexagonal mosaic style of the quilt is indicative of quilts made at the early part of the nineteenth century. This quilt strongly resembles the Hexagon Quilt attributed to Elizabeth Macarthur c. 1840.

The quilt belonged to the family of Mrs E. Prince. It has been a treasured object, carefully stored and often shown to visitors of the family before being passed down to the donor, Molly Burn.

Quilt, patchwork, cotton / chintz, Mrs E Prince, Sydney, New South Wales, 1850-1877.
A prize winning example of mid-nineteenth century patchwork quilt using the English Paper method. Starting from a central rosette the quilt is made up of hexagonal pieces of cotton and cotton chintzes which form a concentric design of rosettes. Each rosette is made up of 7 hexagonal pieces and 85mm in diameter. The quilt has six sides each measuring 115cm. The unfinished border with four extra hexagonal pieces on one side suggests that the quilt was intended to be larger. The underside of the quilt reveals the fine needlework and remains of old letters and newsprint which have been used as templates. The pattern of the quilt is formed with shades of red, cream and green, with the overall effect being one of coloured rosettes patterned on a cream ground.

Designer: Prince, E; Sydney

Maker: Prince, E; Sydney; 1850 - 1877


User: Prince, E; Sydney

Owner: Prince, E; Sydney

94/215/1

2130 mm