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Arpillera

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5018

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0017

Object label:

Arpillera
Unidentified artist
Chile
c1980
Fabric, pearl cotton, yarn; machine pieced, machine appliquéd, hand embroidered, hand crocheted
18” x 14”
Collection of John Beck and Ann Austin

Essay:

MSU labor educator and MSU Museum adjunct curator John Beck acquired this work in 1981 or 1982 in Ann Arbor from Madame Letellier (the widow of Orlando Letellier who was assassinated in Washington, D.C., by the Pinochet regime) who was an instructor in the Residential College at the University of Michigan. The textile depicts a strike by the professionals’ union (professors, engineers, etc.). A small piece of paper rolled up and inserted in the back of the textile carried text in Spanish that references dismissal of 45 employees.

Quilt's title:

Arpillera

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Owner acquired it from Madame Letellier, the widow of Orlando Letelier

Where the quilt was made, country:

Chile

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

c1980

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

18"

How long is the quilt?

14"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Rounded

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Brown; Green

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Spanish words

Location of inscription:

on block

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Crochet

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

Yarn

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

How are the layers held together?

Not quilted

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

MSU labor educator and MSU Museum adjunct curator John Beck acquired this work in 1981 or 1982 in Ann Arbor from Madame Letellier (the widow of Orlando Letellier who was assassinated in Washington, D.C. by the Pinochet regime) who was an instructor in the Residential College at the University of Michigan. The textile depicts a strike by the professionals' union (professors, engineers, etc.) A small piece of paper rolled up and inserted in the back of the textile carried text in Spanish that references dismissal of 45 employees.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Quilts and Human Rights, Michigan State University Museum, January 15 - August 24, 2008

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

John Beck

Quilt owner's city:

Okemos

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

I bought the arpillera in Ann Arbor in 1981 or 1982 (Madame Letellier, the widow of Orlando Letellier who was assassinated by the Pinochet regime in Washington D.C. was an instructor in the Residential College at UM). I am not sure what the text says except that it is a strike by the professionals' union (professors, engineers, etc.)

Details

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

Made entire quilt

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum

Cite this Quilt

Arpillera. c1980. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5018. Accessed: 03/28/24

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