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Boer War

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6633

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; South Africa Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

16.0005

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2016:10.1

Owner's name for the quilt:

Boer War

When was the form filled out?

5/31/2016

Quilt top made by:

Bimsom, M.

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Museum employee

Where the quilt was made, country:

England

Time period:

1876-1900

When was the quilt finished?

1900

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

96"

How long is the quilt?

100"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Cream; Red

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Type of inscription:

Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"United we Stand for Queen and Empire"

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

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:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Ruffles

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

Quilt or bed cover commemorating the Boer War. The piece is a single layer only, and unquilted. There is a wide ruffle on all four sides of the bed cover, and trimmed in handmade linen lace on four sides. The center of the quilt is an offwhite square of polished cotton, with an embroidered portrait of a military dignitary, surrounded by a wreath made of applique, and embroidered images of flowers in yellow floss, including thistle. A red square around the center contains embroidered British flags and leaves, and a banner which reads: "United we Stand for Queen and Empire" The square also contains three embroidered portraits of: General French, General Fuller and General Kitchener. A white cotton border surrounds the inner red square, and contains many embroidered images of soldiers and horsemen. Embroidered images from the bottom, left to right. All transcriptions [sic]: 1. [Portrait] CAPT. PERC SCOTT / RN / OF H.M.S. TERRIBLE / WHOSE GUN CARRIAGE SAVED LADY SMITH 2. [Portrait] LIEUT. COL. BYRON / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY 3. [Portrait on horseback] THE . LIONS CUBS . TO . THE FRONT / A. TROOP . SERGEANT . MAJOR . THE . NEW . SOUTH . WALES . LANCERS 4. [Portrait] COL. R.C. KEKEWICH 5. [Portrait] MAJOR GE / SIR H. SMITH K.C.M.G. / COMMANDING AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENT 6. [Portrait] GENERAL . LORD . METHUEN 7. [Portrait] LIEUT. COL. H.C.O. PLUMER 8. Two soldiers standing next to boxes labeled "SHOT" 9. Classical female figure labeled "VENGEANCE" 10. [Portrait] MAJOR . GENERAL CLEMENTS 11. Man standing next to a dead horse, shooting at an enemy above words "TO . AVENGE . A . FALLEN . FRIEND" 12. [Portrait] FIELD MARSHALL LORD ROBERTS V.C. 13. [Portrait] LORD KITCHENE[R] 14. [Portrait] COL. R.S.S. BADEN-POWELL 15. UNITED WE STAND / FOR / QUEEN AND EMPIRE 16. Soldier holding shield with Anglo-Norman inscription "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" above the words "WORKED IN 1900 BY M. BIMSON" 16. Man on horseback above the words "NEWS FROM MAFEKING DISPATCH . RIDER . PURSUED . BY . BOERS" 17. [Portrait] MAJOR . ROBIN / NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT 18. Sailors with flags with caption "1900 / ONE NOBLE MATERNITY" 19. Classical female figure labeled "VENGEANCE" 20. [Portrait] COLONEL W.H. MACKINNON COMMANDING 21. [Portrait] MAJOR . GEN CHARLES TUCKER 22. [Portrait] LIEUT. GEN SIR G. WHITE V.C.GC.B. 23. [Portrait]LIUET. COL. OTTER / CANADIAN CONTINGENT 24. Standing soldier image above the words "LENT FOR THE OCCASION / N.C.D OF THE VICTORIAN MOUNTED RIFLES" 25. [Portrait] THE LATE . MAJOR . GEN / E.R.P. WOODGATE 26. [Portrait] THE LATE MAJ GEN SIR . W.P. SYMONS

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library, or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the eBay seller, "Here is a great item from a recent estate. This beautiful hand-made piece is a memorial of The Second Boer War (Oct. 1899 - May 1902), between Great Britain and and South Africa. Good condition for its age. I detect no major damage, stains or odors. Slight yellowing from storage. "Worked on in 1900 by M. Bimsom". This appears to be unstitched. 2/17/2016.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum

Cite this Quilt

Bimsom, M. Boer War. 1900. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; South Africa Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-6633. Accessed: 03/29/24