2011/41

Harriet Bartlett (Maker)

This part-finished patchwork quilt was made by Barbara Johnson's great-grandmother on her father's side, Harriet Bartlett, who probably died in the early 1940s. The quilt itself dates to the late Victorian or early Edwardian era (although almost certainly the former). Mrs Johnson's father, Henry Bartlett, was born in 1915 at Great Park Farm near Mortimer in Berkshire. The Bartlett family continued to live and work in this area and many worked with the cattle, horses and other animals as farm labourers or alternatively in service. In approximately 1990, the quilt was lent for display in an exhibition in the village church hall in Bramley where Mrs Johnson's mother, Mary Bartlett, lived in her later years.

1 quilt: textile; paper; good condition

MERL ‘Object Accession Form’ – 'Short description (free text): Patchwork quilt, unfinished and showing method of construction. // ... // Physical description (free text): Large, flat, multi-coloured and multi-patterned patchwork quilt. Patches made of 6 small hexagonal pieces usually of the same pattern sewn together with a seventh hexagonal piece of different colour/pattern filling the resulting gap in the centre. These patches have then been sewn together and any gaps filled in. Quilt is unfinished and shows method of construction; many patches still have their larger initial stitches as well as the final, smaller/tighter stitches. Numerous paper templates on underside, made from scraps of printed documents and handwritten correspondence. Some areas where the patches have been sewn together but gaps were left have not been filled. One patch on the edge of the quilt appears damaged - one of the hexagonal pieces forming it is missing and the threads are loose. // ... // Associated information (free text): This part-finished patchwork quilt was made by Barbara Johnson's great-grandmother on her father's side, Harriet Bartlett, who died in the early 1940s. The quilt itself dates to the late Victorian or early Edwardian era (although almost certainly the former). Mrs Johnson's father, Henry Bartlett, was born in 1915 at Great Park Farm near Mortimer in Berkshire. The Bartlett family continued to live and work in this area and many worked with the cattle, horses and other animals as farm labourers or alternatively in service (as maids etc). In approximately 1990, the quilt was lent for display in an exhibition in the village church hall in Bramley where Mrs Johnson's mother, Mary Bartlett, lived in her later years. The exhibition label which accompanied the quilt is included in the accessions file. // References: 'The quilts of the British Isles', Rae, Janet (Deirdre McDonald Books, 1987).’, Letter, MERL to Derek and Barbara Johnson, 28 September 2010 – 'Dear Mr and Mrs Johnson, // Many thanks again for the kind offer of the patchwork quilt. As I said to Barbara on the telephone, the Museum would be very pleased to acquire the item in question for its collection. We have other examples of needlework but none of this particular style. The fact that it is part-finished helps to show clearly the details of its construction. As well as the amazing visual feast that is the front of the item, I was particularly taken by the fact that it features numerous paper templates on the rear made from scraps of printed documents as well as from handwritten correspondence. // Just to confirm I have the details correct, the object was made by Barbara’s greatgrandmother on her mother’s side. This dates the quilt to the late Victorian or Edwardian period, although almost certainly the earlier of these phases. Barbara’s own mother, Mary Bartlett (whose mother made the object), was born at Great Park Farm near Mortimer, Berkshire, in around 1912. Much of the Bartlett family lived in this area, where many worked in service or as farm labourers. // As I said on the telephone, do take your time to think the donation over if you wish. Assuming you are keen to proceed, I have pencilled in the afternoon of Wednesday 6th October just in case you are able to bring the item into the Museum then. I know you are busy that morning, so please do not worry if the afternoon does not suit either. I would be happy to make alternative arrangements. Do feel free to ring me if you have any further questions or wish to make alternative plans for delivery. // Yours, // Ollie Douglas // Assistant Curator', MERL miscellaneous note – 'Ollie Angus Douglas // Subject: Object donation by Derek and Barbara Johnson // Start: Wed 06/10/2010 14:00 // End: Wed 06/10/2010 15:00 // Recurrence: (none) // Organizer: Ollie Angus Douglas // Categories: Business // Will probably arrive at 14.15 but could arrive earlier if bus running early. // Offered for donation by Derek and Barbara Johnson. The donation is of a part-finished patchwork quilt showing clearly the details of its construction. It features numerous paper templates on the rear that have been made from scraps of printed documents as well as from handwritten correspondence. The object was made by the Barbara Johnson's great-grandmother on her ["mother's" scored through] [insert] father's [end insert] side. This dates the quilt to the late Victorian or early Edwardian period, almost certainly the former. The donor's mother, Mary Bartlett, was born at Great Park Farm, near Mortimer, Berkshire, in circa 1912. The Bartlett family lived in this area where many of them either worked in service or as farm labourers.', Non-MERL text label – 'Mrs Mary Bartlett's grandmother-in-law worked this patchwork quilt.'

Fibre, Paper

Stitched, Quilted