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