QUILT INDEX RECORD

15-11-1020

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Who documented this quilt?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Wisconsin Quilt History Project Number:

180

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

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

Made entire quilt

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

Made the quilt

Where was the quilt documentation day held?

Cedarburg Cultural Center

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

The "Bird" Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Wholecloth Quilt with Applique and Embroidery

How wide is the quilt?

62 in.

How long is the quilt?

76 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Black; Blue or Navy; Brown; Green; Red; White; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Good/moderate use

Time period:

1930-1949

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1935

Further information concerning dates:

Mrs. Recob was unmarried and 20 years of age when she made the quilt

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch; Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

White

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Other

Describe the quilt filling:

An old sheet

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

All-over-design; Grid/crosshatch; Grid diamond; Outline

Describe the quilting designs used:

Background is filled in with grid/crosshatch hanging diamonds approx. 1 in. wide.

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

20 bird motifs measuring approximately 15 x 15 in. are appliqued and embroidered, side by side, onto a white solid/plain whole cloth. The appliqued birds are either sitting in their natural habitat or in the case of a canary and lovebirds in cages. The branches of the trees are described with contour lines that are hand embroidered using the stem stitch and green cotton embroidery floss. The applique patches are embroidered around the edge. Details of the birds feathers, wings, beaks, eyes and other vegetation are also hand embroidered with French knots, straight stitches, satin stitches and stem stitching. Some of the birds: flamingo, robin, cardinals, owl, parrot, orioles, gold finches, wood peckers, peacock, blue jays, canary and love birds.

Quilt top made by:

Recob, Gertrude LeBansky

Quilted by:

Recob, Gertrude LeBansky

Where the quilt was made, county:

Richland

Where the quilt was made, state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

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

This is Mrs. Recob's first quilt. At the time she was teaching at Melanthon Creek School, a one-room rural school in Richland County. The evenings were long (with no T.V. in those days) so they made quilts.

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento; Other collection

Describe present uses of the quilt:

Personal collection

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new; Sewing scraps; Other

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

Acquired from relatives, friends and yard goods store.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Public domain

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

Mrs. Recob got the applique pattern from a friend.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

LeBansky

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

06-07-1912

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's date and place of death:

08-30-2008

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Graduated from Richland County Teacher's Normal

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Catholic-St. Patrick Catholic Church

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Teacher (St. Agnes Catholic School & Christ King Catholic School in Milwaukee/Milwaukee County, Wisconsin till her retirement)

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's county:

Milwaukee

Quiltmaker's city:

Milwaukee

Quiltmaker's state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

LeBansky, Tom

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

LeBansky, Ella

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Wisconsin

Number of children:

2

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

1-5 quilts

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Recob's mother and her friends formed a quilt club. Mrs. Recob feels she inherited her love of quilting. In addition to quilting, she enjoyed painting and volunteer work.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Details

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