QUILT INDEX RECORD

11-37-6997

Essay:

Demeter's Return
1986
Pieced by Radka Donnell, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Quilted by Claire Mielke or Ruth Alex
72"w x 99"h
Hand pieced; hand appliqué; machine quilted with longarm machine
Cotton & synthetic fabrics; polyester batting

Demeter's Return commemorates Ms. Donnell's return to the United States from Switzerland to be reunited with her daughters. The theme is based on the Greek myth in which a mother, separated from her daughters by a body of water, is reunited with them only after many trials and tribulations. Radka Donnell designed the rigid quilting for her quilt as a feminist statement, wishing to show women that they do not have to be governed by convention, but should seek alternate ways of accomplishing tasks. Here, traditional quilting by hand, a time-consuming task, has been supplanted by the timesaving technology of longarm machine pantograph quilting. According to Radka Donnell, women are then freed to pursue better, more interesting activities. At the time this quilt was finished, commercial quilters performed most longarm quilting.

Gift of Rhoda Cohen, 1998.10

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project - MassQuilts

Who documented this quilt?

Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project, MassQuilts; New England Quilt Museum Collection

MASS-Quilts ID Number:

5408

Alternate inventory control number:

NEQM# 1998.10

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner:

New England Quilt Museum

Quilt owner's city:

Lowell

Quilt owner's state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Quilt owner's county:

Middlesex

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Width:

74.5

Length:

101

Quilt's title:

Demeter's Return

Pattern name (maker/owner/historical):

Demeter's Return

Quilt top made by:

Donnell, Radka

Quiltmaker's state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Quiltmaker's city:

Cambridge

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

How did owner acquire quilt?

Gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Cambridge

Where the quilt was made, state:

Massachusetts (MA)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Date made:

1986

Who did quilting/tying?

Mielke, Claire or; Alex, Ruth

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1986

Format:

Finished quilt

Technique, applique:

Hand Applique

Technique, embellishments:

Embroidery

Describe the quilt setting:

abstract

Fabric fibers:

Cotton

Patterns:

Print

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

faille/textured/plain weave

Predominant colors:

Black

Quilting:

Machine quilting

Describe the quilting designs used:

meandering

Binding and edging:

Back turned to front

Binding; fiber:

Cotton

Binding; weave:

Plain weave

Binding; pattern:

2 fabrics, patterned fabric

Batting:

Polyester

Backing, number of pieces:

two pieces

Backing, fiber:

Cotton or polyester blend

Backing, predominant color:

Purple

Inscription, type:

Initials

Inscription, content:

RD

Describe where the inscription was found:

on front

Inscription, technique:

Embroidery

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

label on back

Condition:

Good/moderate use

Condition, damage:

Dirty

Describe the damage:

embroidered flowers frayed

Condition, structurally sound?

This quilt is structurally sound.

Pattern name, variations and comments:

Abstract-original

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1986

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

New England Quilt Museum