Tree of Life - detail

Quilt Index Record: 48-7C-89
a Essay Historical Background
descriptionOn this quilt Gasperik quilted the outline of the appliqued blue bird which appears on all of her 'Indiana Wreath' quilts. On the other two Tree of Life quilts, quilted birds are all outline copies and variations of the quilts' applique birds.
essayIt appears that this quilt was finished in a hurry and may not have had Gasperik's usual painstaking attention. Its batting falls ~2" short of the top edge of the quilt,. A binding ‘tail’ protrudes in the upper left corner in an uncharacteristically sloppy way. Heavy pencil markings are visible on the quilt’s top. Interestingly, the topmost quilted bird on this quilt, an outline of the more elaborate McCall applique bird, is missing its head! It is the undated Tree of Life. It would be most interesting to know when she made it because it probably coincides with a particularly difficult time in her life.
Administrative Fields
InstNameF003Gasperik Collection
InstProjNameF003aMary Gasperik Private Collection
InstInvContrNumF004044b
Information source fields
IdentPersonF006Relative of quiltmaker
Quilt owner
Author/researcher
SourceOtherF006aGrand-daughter
RelnQuiltF007Quilt owner
IfOtherF007dGrand-daughter Susan Salser began this research effort in 1991, after she and her two sisters divided up the quilts which belonged to their mother (Elsie Gasperik Krueger) who died in 1988. Her ongoing research has been fruitful and interesting.
Overall Quilt Description
TypeObjF008Finished quilt
QuiltTitleF009Tree of Life - detail
OwnerNameF010Tree of Life (Susan)
OverallWidthF12a68 inches
OverallLengthF012b91 inches
ShapeEdgeF013Straight
ShapeCornersF013bStraight
PredomColorsF014Yellow
Orange
Green
Cream
Brown
Beige or Tan
OverallColorF14bDark colors
Multicolor
OverCondF015Excellent/like new
DateQuiltF0231930-1949
FamDateF023c1935-1942
OtherExDateF023dLate 1930s
OtherDateF023eMerikay Waldvogel
DateInfoF023fAlthough the McCall pattern on which this quilt is based was published in 1931, other Gasperik versions of this Tree of Life design were made as early as 1935 and as late as 1942.
Quilt top description
LayFormatF024Medallion or framed center
SubjQuiltF025Tree of Life
NumBordersF033One
BordDescF034Wide border on four sides frames the center panel.
Quilt top materials and construction
FiberTypesF035Cotton
FabPrintF037Print
Solid/plain
ConstrucF038bHand Applique
ConstrucF038gEmbroidery
PaperF038ino
Quilt back materials and construction
FabFiberTypesF040Cotton
ColorBackingF040bBeige or Tan
NumPiecesF0423
WidthPiecesF042a3", 32", 33"
DescBackF043Solid/plain
Quilt binding
MatUsedF044Cotton
ConstrucBindF046Bias grain
WidthBindF047less than a half inch
Quilt batting
MatUsedF048Cotton
BattLoftF048aThin (Less than 3/16")
Quilting description
QuiltTechF049Hand quilting
ThrColorF049bwhite
NumStitchedF05011
NumStitchF05111
KnotsF051bno
DesignF052aGrid diamond
Clamshell
DesignF052bOther
Floral
Feathering
DesignF052cGrid/crosshatch
DesignF052dA quilted line of feathering frames inner edge of center panel. Cross-hatch filled feathered hearts, cross-hatch filled feathered leaves and three quilted birds are embedded in the diamond patterned background of the center panel.
Quilt notes and observations
FeaturesF053The appliqued bird in shades of orange was not part of the Kaumagraph pattern. It isn't known where Gasperik got this pattern. She used it on Tree of Life #031 also, but not on the double trunked version of Tree of Life (#065), where she instead created two intricate elaborations of the McCall bluebird.
Quiltmaker identification
QuiltTopF054Gasperik, Mary
QuiltedByF055Gasperik, Mary
Quilt provenance
LocMadeF057aChicago
ProvCountyF057bCook County
ProvStateF057dIllinois (IL)
ProvCountryF057fUnited States
AcquiredF058Other
ProvenanceF058aSusan acquired this in a quilt trade with her sister Karen. Karen had been brought two different Tree of Life quilts by Elsie. Susan wanted to own one of the three Gasperik Tree of Life quilts. Because their mother helped design these quilts and loved them, the Tree of Life quilts are a sentimental favorite of the three girls.
Quilt purposes uses
ReasonsF060Art or personal expression
QDesignF060bBedding, special occasion
PresUseF062Keepsake/memento
OthPresUseF062aMary's grandchildren regard her quilts as a unique collection to be preserved and appreciated.
Quilt design and materials sources
SourceMatF063Purchased new
OthSourceF063aNote: The dark green calico print (top row of the triple mound under the tree) may be the same fabric supplied with Calico Rose (see #049) kit--Paragon kit No. 01082.
TopSourceF064Commercial/Published source: Pattern
CommSourceF064bMcCall #1853 Crewelwork Pattern/Tree of Life published in McCall Decorative Arts and Needlework 1931-1932.
Exhibition history of quilt
ExhibitListF067a"The Quilts of Mary Gasperik" Ravenswood Historic Site, Livermore, CA, March 14-15, 1992.
Quilt ownership and contact info
OwnershipF082Private
OwnerNameF082aSusan Krueger Salser
OwnerCountryF086bUnited States
SourceInfoF088bSusan Krueger Salser
Other source materials available for this quilt
RelItemsF088aPattern envelope (including contents with yarn color chart) McCall #1853 Crewel Tree of Life - Susan Salser private collection. The family has Gasperik's own copy of the McCall Kaumagraph #1853 pattern (printed in black and white). Letter from Gasperik's niece Vilma McClure to Susan Salser, dated Jan. 9, 1994 refers to the Gasperik 'Tree of Life' quilts (she calls the design "the family tree quilt"): "About your mother. She helped design many of the quilts. I particularly remember the family tree quilt. I saw it in the making. I think your mother designed that one. Elsie was most pleased that her mother had such a passion for making quilts. Indeed, Aunt Mary didn't do anything else - literally! Your mother went to Hazelrest and cleaned her mother's house and did her wash on a regular basis."
Quiltmaker personal information
MaidenF097bMihalovits, Maria
GenderF098Female
BirthDateF09901/25/1888
MarriageF099b11/18/1906
DeathF10005/25/1969
EthnicF101Hungarian
EdBkgdF102Elementary School
BirthplaceCountryF098dHungary
EnviroF104cRural
Quiltmaker address
StAddressF1059314 Cottage Grove
CountyF106Cook
CityF106aChicago
StateF107Illinois (IL)
CountryF108United States
Quiltmaker Family history
FatherNameF109Mihalovits, Istvan
BplaceF109aHungary
EthBkgrndF110Hungarian
MotherNameF111Mihalovits, Vidoszava
BplaceF111aHungary
EthBkgrndF112Hungarian
SpouseF113Gasperik, Stephen
EthBkgrndF114Hungarian
OccupationF115Milk Dealer/Grocery Store Owner/Butcher
NoChildF1163
NoFemF116a1 (Elsie 1909-1988)
NoMaleF116b2 (Elmer and Stephen)
Quiltmaker personal quilting history
LearnedToQuiltF117Self-Taught
From guild or club member
WhenQuiltF118Age 40-49
WhyQuiltF119Pleasure
Other
OtherF119aMary Gasperik made quilts because it was her life passion and greatest talent. As opportunities arose, she entered contests and exhibited them publicly. She also made special quilts for her family.
Quiltmakers Membership in quilting group
NameGroupF120Tuley Park Quilt Club and Detroit News Quilt Club
LocGroupF121Southside Chicago and Detroit MI
SpecialGroupF122Chicago group met to quilt and held periodic quilt shows; Detroit group held national exhibits and contests.
Other quilts made by quiltmaker
NumQuiltsF123more than 50
SellQuiltF127no
TeachF129no
Other source materials available for quiltmaker
OtherSourceMatMerikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. Patchwork Souvenirs of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair (Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press, 1993)102-103.
Merikay Waldvogel "One American Dream Comes True" Quilters Newsletter Magazine, March 2008, 46-49.
Image Information
InvenNumF075044b
ImageConF075aDetail: orange bird
ImageTypeF076Color
SourceF077CD-ROM
DateF0793
1
1992
CE
photocredit079a1Don Gonzalez
DigDateF079a1
2008
CE
AccessF080Restricted
HolderF080aSusan Salser
File Information
functionImage - medium display (250-550 pixels)
file_mediumimage
file_formatjpeg
Contributing InstitutionsMATRIX: Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online at Michigan State University, Michigan State University Museum, Alliance For American Quilts
PublisherQuilt Index
Resource TypeStillImage
data verification
verifyyes
verifiedbySalser, Susan
dateverified12
20
2008
CE
File Upload
ReposFilequiltiGasperik-a0a0e6-c_13049.jpg
48-7C-89-224-quiltiGasperik-a0a0e6-c_13049.jpg
106762
image/jpeg
Journal Upload
pbdquiltiGasperik-a0a0e6-c
ParentRecord48-7C-48