QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-95

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Alternate inventory control number:

1995.159.2

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Stenge, Bertha

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1891 IL

Date and place of quiltmaker's death:

1957 IL

What is/was the quiltmaker's religious affiliation?

Jewish

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Stenge, Bernard

Spouse's occupation:

attorney

Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

3

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Sheramsky, Frances Malina

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Sheramsky, Harry

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?

6 other quilts by Bertha in Museum's collection.

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

Why was the quilt made? Was it made for a special occasion?

Challenge or Contest entry

Where the quilt was made, city:

Chicago

Where the quilt was made, county:

Cook

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Anything else we should know about this quilt? (i.e. customs, stories):

Purchased for the Museum by the Frank Mason family.

Has this quilt won prizes? Date and event:

Canadian National Exposition, Toronto, ON, Canada 1936 (First Place)

List other materials available about this quilt. This may include oral history, articles, additional photos or publications, etc.

Bertha was inspired by a plate she saw at the Art Institute of Chicago to make this quilt of 7200 pieces and 500 colors for the CNE contest. This was her first national prize. See article in The Living Museum, v. 59, no. 1 & 2, 1997.

Date owner signed the form:

1995

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Star of Contstantine

Pattern name; reference name:

Brilliant Star (Nancy Page)

Source of pattern name and number. Include if it is a variation.

262

How was the inscription marked?

Attached label

Date provided by maker/owner:

1936

Date estimated by IQRP:

1936

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1930-1949

Length:

90

Width:

86

Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?

14

Format:

Finished quilt

Piecing techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Construction (top):

Block pattern

Block style (top):

Hexagons

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Fabric; fibers:

Cotton

Fabric print:

Solid/plain; Multiple scrap

Predominant colors (top):

Blue or Navy

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Describe the quilting designs used:

Outline quilted in hexagons, diagonal grid in border.

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Describe the borders:

Border is pieced hexagons, hand sewn.

Binding and edge treatment:

Straight grain; Hand sewn

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

Cotton

Thickness:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

3

Backing; fiber content:

Cotton

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Backing; width of pieces (in inches):

24

Backing; color:

Blue or Navy

Condition:

Very good/almost new

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

Has hanging sleeve.

Inscription:

Signature

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Bertha Stenge

Inscription: front/back?

on back

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Sheramsky, Bertha