Object Record
Images
Additional Images [3]
Metadata
Object Name |
Quilt |
Object ID # |
2002.12.1 |
Title |
"Basket" quilt from Irwin R. Swartley family, 1911 |
Creator |
Monteith, Mary Ann Steever, 1842-1923 (attributed) |
Place of Origin |
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania |
Date |
1911 |
Material |
Cotton |
Dimensions |
W-82 L-80 inches |
Description |
Appliquéd Basket Quilt comprised of a 5 x 5 block formation set on point. Each block averages 10.00" x 10.00" and consists of either plain blue chambray with diamond cross-hatching, or an applied basket block made out of a ground of various printed cottons with an applied basket motif made out of either plain or printed cottons. The handle of each basket has been machine stitched on with white thread. In the center block, below the handle of the basket is a handwritten inscription, which reads "Christmas Present From Mary A. Monteith December 11, 1911." Surrounding the complete blocks are sixteen half blocks and four quarter blocks made out of the same blue chambray cotton. The surrounding border is 2.50" wide and made out white cotton with blue outlined circle print. The outer border is 2.50" wide and made of the same blue chambray cotton with a 3/8" wide applied binding of a peach printed checked cotton with a burgundy and brown tulip print and reinforced with white machine stitching. The rest of the quilt is handstitched with white thread and a SPI of 4-6. The back is comprised of the same blue chambray cotton. Has a cotton sleeve attached for display purposes. |
Provenance |
Made and signed by Mary A. Monteith as a Christmas gift for her "neighbors", Irwin R. Swartley (1882-?) and Bertha Mabel (Pross) Swartley (1885-?), of Hatfield Township, Montgomery County. The donor was their son. The maker was probably Mary Ann (Steever) Monteith (1842-1923), widow of William Monteith (1836-1884). In 1910 and 1920 (according to the census) she was living with her daughter Lizzie Monteith Eckhart in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, perhaps not far from the Swartley family. She and her husband are buried in the St. Thomas Episcopal Cemetery, Whitemarsh. This quilt was cataloged in the 1991 Goschenhoppen Historians Quilt Round Up. |
Source |
Gift of Austin & Sara Duke Swartley |
Related Publications |
Roan, Nancy and Donald. Lest I Shall Be Forgotten: Anecdotes and Traditions of Quilts. Green Lane, PA: Goschenhoppen HIstorians, 1993, p. 63. |
People |
Monteith, Mary Ann Steever, 1842-1923 Swartley, Irwin R, 1882-1959 Swartley, Bertha Mabel Pross, 1885-1968 |
Collection |
Textiles-Quilts |
Other number |
GOSCH: 288-1-90 |