QUILT INDEX RECORD

31-27-202

Who documented this quilt?

South Africa Quilt History Project; Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

South Africa Quilt History Project

South Africa Quilt History Project Number:

CHSLM434

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

2014

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Icon

How wide is the quilt?

30"

How long is the quilt?

30"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate colors:

Black; Brown; Gold; Green; Yellow

Overall condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2014

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Subject of the quilt:

Nelson Mandela

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Shweshwe, and fabric of African origin

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

How is the binding made?

Separate binding applied

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Quilt top made by:

Hermans, Jenny

Quilted by:

Hermans, Jenny

Where the quilt was made, city:

Pinelands, Cape Town

Where the quilt was made, country:

South Africa

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Consceince of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela; International Quilt Conference Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 2014

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

MacDowell, Marsha; Mazloomi, Carolyn. Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela. Michigan State University Museum, East Lansing, 2014; page 62.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Jenny Hermans

Quilt owner's city:

Pinelands, Cape Town

Quilt owner's country:

South Africa

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

South African

Quiltmaker's city:

Pinelands, Cape Town

Quiltmaker's country:

South Africa

Description of quilt:

Jenny Hermans
Icon
Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa | Cotton, Shweshwe, and fabric of African origin; machine stitching and quilting | Photograph by Rene Hermans

On Mandela Day - 18th of July - there is a call to pledge 67 minutes of your time in his honor. I started making this quilt on Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday; I thought about him, his smiling face, and hands with intertwined fingers. One month later, I completed the quilt.

The words on the quilt are a quote from Nelson Mandela: "To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the lives of others." The number 46664 was Mandela's prison number; it is now used as part of his foundation's Aids Awareness Campaign. His words "It's in your hands" make us all conscious that we can do something about the situation.

The world over we mourn the passing of a great man. How fortunate we are to have lived in his lifetime to witness the extraordinary gifts he shared with us - amongst the many were compassion, forgiveness, and laughter. Mandela's love for family an his loyalty to friends and determination to strive for freedom for humanity are his lasting legacy.

Who photographed this quilt?

Rene Hermans

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

The copyright belongs to the owner/artist.