QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5298

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0119

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2008:168.2

Object label:

Colours of Africa
Colours of Africa
Iringa, Tanzania
2005
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:168.2

Essay:

Each block is hand appliquéd and embroidered on a solid taupe background. The blocks portray, ornaments, gourds, spears, huts, a wooden comb, drum, and other African motifs.

Quilt's title:

Colours of Africa

Name of the group that made the quilt:

Colours of Africa

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

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Iringa

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States; Tanzania

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

c2005

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

Iringa

Quiltmaker's country:

Tanzania

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

On a brown Tag attached to the quilt. African Home Colours of Africa Colours of Africa products are hand-made by Women of Tanzania. The products are made of colourful "Kitenge" cloth of which African women make their national dress. This project stems from a Baptist Mission Evangelistic Sewing Project. Sewing skills, precision, as well as honest life and business ethics are taught and practiced in this project. No proceeds are retained by the Mission or missionaries. May God bless all who buy and enjoy the products of "Colours of Africa" P.O. Box 1131, Iringa, Tanzania, East Africa. Lucy (in pencil) Colours of Africa See laughing in the marketplace, Though they've laboured all day long, You'd think they'd just collapse and weep But no......I hear a song! Bodies dark, beautiful, strong Sears of heavy labour, Babies tied upon their backs Mother Earth's best cradle, Women of Africa, a colourful parade, All bedecked in Kintenge cloth shades, The brigher, the better, prints wild and with flare This is the remembrance "Colours of Africa" want to share, Poem by Pauline Eardensohn

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

41 1/2"

How long is the quilt?

55"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Brown; Cream; Gold; Green

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

12

Size of quilt blocks:

10 1/4" x 10 1/4"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Separated by plain sashing

Sashing width:

2 1/2"

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Sashing is Kitenge cloth

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

Description of the back:

Kitenge cloth

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

In-the-ditch; Outline

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

Each block is hand appliqued and embroidered on a solid taupe background. The blocks portray, ornaments, gourds, spears, huts, wooden comb, drum, and other African motifs.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

The Quilts of East Africa, Ontario, Canada. October 20-25, 2008.

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

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:

This quilt was purchased at an Exhibition of East African Quilts in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, October 20-25, 2008. The show was sponsored by Cotton-by-Post Quilt Shoppe, 135 Main St., Ailsa Craig, Ontario.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees