Sunday, July 24, 2016

The Westbury Quilt

One of the most beloved pieces of Anglo-Australian folk art, the Westbury Quilt was embroidered by the Misses Hampson, two sisters living on a farm near Westbury, Tasmania between 1900 and 1903. It is now in the National Gallery of Art in Canberra.The file above is pretty big. Below, some details.








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3 comments:

pootrsox said...

Absolutely breathtaking!

But-- to be very prissy and pedantic-- not actually a "quilt" despite what it's called, unless there is stitching that goes through three layers (top, batting, backing. I can't see any in the pictures, though it's possible that each square was completed in three layers and then the squares were assembled into a unit.

There is no quilting in any of the images you shared.

(Sorry-- but I am a quilter who has to pay to have others provide that stitching through three layers b/c I am so poor at doing it myself! So I'm conscious of the definition.)

July 24, 2016 at 3:26 PM
John said...

Hey, I didn't name it! I found it in an exhibit of Australia's most famous quilts.

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/43391

July 24, 2016 at 8:33 PM
Anonymous said...

G'day John, The term 'quilt' has been used colloquially - technically a 'counterpane'.
Just to let you know that the "Westbury Quilt" is currently on exhibition at the National Gallery in Melbourne Victoria until early Nov 2016.
Also - could you tell me the source of your images of the quilt - their resolution is great!
Thanx JST

August 27, 2016 at 8:37 PM

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