Macrorie House Museum

From QuiltIndex

Physical address: 11 Jabu Ndlovu/Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201

For inquiries, contact: Marigold Rei, Curator

Tel: +27 (0) 33-394-2161

Email: mhm@sai.co.za

There are several quilts shown on the beds in this historic house built in 1860. According to a note pinned on the quilt, one single bed-sized, unquilted pieced top “was started in 1883 in Plymouth, England, and brought by a M Chambers to South Africa in 1907.” Another quilt top, made in the hexagon mosaic pattern, was, according to museum catalogue records made in England by Elizabeth, the great aunt of donor Mrs. J Mitchell, in 1808. It was brought to South Africa by Mrs. Mitchell’s grandfather, C. R. James, who landed in East London c. 1887.

"This information originally gathered in 2010 by Marsha MacDowell, Michigan State University Museum, during research on quilt history in South Africa that was supported by a fellowship from the International Quilt Study Center and Museum at University of Nebraska-Lincoln with additional in-kind support from Michigan State University Museum."