Cotton Framed Medallion Quilt
Date made: c.1947
Description: A cotton framed medallion patchwork quilt with a strong geometric pattern of alternating light and dark borders surrounding a central square. The central square contains a diamond with a square set inside. The dark borders are dominated by royal, mid and dark blues highlighted by panels of red whilst the light borders are predominantly pastel browns, lilac, yellow and white. The fabric patterns include checks, stripes, spots, florals, and plain fabrics, together with pictorial patterns. Although made in 1947, some of the fabrics appear to be 19th century in date.
The strong geometric design with the borders slightly out of kilter produces an optical illusion. It appears that the completed patchwork top did not lie flat for quilting resulting in the quilt maker having to cut a long dart diagonally from the corner of the quilt to the centre to remove the excess fabric.
The quilt is backed with a white cotton wholecloth and contains no filling. It is machine-quilted with white cotton thread and horizontal and vertical seams on the top fabric holding the backing and top fabric together.
This patchwork quilt was made around 1947 by Mrs Margaret Cowin of Ballachrink, Onchan at the age of 85. Mrs Cowin was the daughter of John Kinley, shoemaker and Methodist local preacher from Minorca, Laxey.
Measurements: overall: 168 cm x 212 cm
Materials: cotton
Object name: quilt
Collection: Costume & Textiles Collection
ID Number: 1958-0022