Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2017 – #11
DECEMBER 24, 2017
Marriage Quilt, Mary Morris, Elgin, Ontario, c. 1825, cotton and linen, 185 cm x 200 cm, from the collection of the Canadian Museum of History.
Author Ruth McKendry describes this quilt in her book
Quilts and Other Bedcoverings in the Canadian Tradition:
“Made by Mary Morris (at the age of fourteen) … Mary Morris was born in 1811 with a physical handicap that prevented her from walking. As a result, she became a skilled needlewoman at an early age. This beautiful example of her work has been carefully preserved by relatives, and it has been suggested that the running horses and dogs expressed her yearning for freedom of movement. The quilt is backed with handspan linen, contains little or no stuffing and is finely quilted. This quilt was made very shortly after immigration, and European influences are visible in its making.”
It is said that she made it for her hope chest, but born with club-foot she never married. It remained tucked away by her and it’s subsequent owners, which is why it is in such wonderful condition.
Even at such a young age she had a wonderful sense of composition and design. Most of the elements are mirrored, except the top and bottom borders. There she switches the position of different flowers and only the middle bird remains in the same position. I love those subtle differences. Her use of colours in the appliqué work reflect beautifully the colours in the borders. The pieced outer border is precisely sized and sewn so that they resolve neatly at the end of the borders, no pieces being cut or coping strips added to make the borders fit. The pieced inner border while precisely sewn, includes “chopped off” blocks to make it fit the overall composition. And the use of the purplish border both top and bottom adds interest and likely was to add length to fit a bed.
I might hypothesize that since the quilt was made shortly after immigration and the refined nature of the design, use of fabric and colour, that the side borders of horses and hounds depicted scenes she had known in England and left behind. Either way it is a feast for the eyes. While I start looking at the centre vase and flower composition, my eyes keep drifting to and resting on those lovely cheddar flowers … of course.
Where are your eyes naturally drawn to in this quilt?
The cheddar flowers first….then I’m drawn to that lovely border of square in a square blocks! And while I’m usually bothered by the chopped off blocks, in this quilt, I don’t even notice them. It’s such a bold border containing all that lovely crewel work….really beautiful! Oh, and that gorgeous basket fabric for the outside border….I really need some of that fabric! :o)
Well you know me and my weakness for cheddar … I am right there with you on that. And totally agree on the border fabric. Like I need another piece of fabric in my life ;-).
I just discovered your blog today. Loved looking at the antique Canadian quilts. My mother was Canadian and I have many wonderful relatives up there.
Hi Pam, I am so glad you discovered my blog and that you have a close and wonderful connection to these quilts. Lovely to hear from you.
I’m drawn to the birds. A remarkable quilt – thanks so much for this 12 days of Christmas!
You are so very welcome Janet. And I agree, those birds have such character.
So lovely to see these quilts. My ancestors were part of the early history of North America and I love to connect with Canadian history. It isn’t often I have seen Canadian quilts. They are stunning. Thankyou
Susan you are so very welcome. It was a real pleasure putting together this years line-up of quilts.