QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-7823

Object label

Rose Basket
Bozena Vilhelmina Clarke
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Top made in 1939, quilted in 1943
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#6119.33

Essay about this quilt.

The "Rose Basket" quilt is in the style of a pattern designed by Anne Orr, a needlework and quilting designer from Tennessee who wrote a column and was needlework editor for Good Housekeeping magazine from 1919 until 1940. The trademark look of Orr's pieced designs is that they replicate the look of a cross-stitch pattern. A multitude of one-inch, finished squares are positioned to form the quilt's design.

Bozena Clarke began this quilt on October 11, 1938, completed the piecing in 1939, and entered it in the May 1940 Detroit News Quilt Show where it was awarded a third prize. The top was quilted in 1942 and then presented to Harriet Clarke for her high school graduation.

By Mary Worrall, excerpted from American Quilts from Michigan State University Museum.

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number

85.2139

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

6119.33

What is the title of the quilt?

Rose Basket

What is the name of the quilt given by the owner?

Rose Basket

Who made the quilt top?

Clarke, Bozena Vilhelmina

Who did the quilting?

Clarke, Bozena Vilhelmina

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

Received as a gift

Where was the quilt made (city)?

Detroit

Where was the quilt made (county)?

Wayne

Where was the quilt made (state)?

Michigan (MI)

Choose the time frame that best describes when the quilt was made.

1930-1949

When was the quilt started?

1938-9

When was the quilt finished?

1942

This quilt was made to be used as a

Gift or presentation

How is this quilt used?

Museum collection

Choose the gender of the quilt maker(s).

Female

Where does/did the quilt maker live (city)?

Detroit

Where does/did the quilt maker live (county)?

Wayne

Where does/did the quilt maker live (state)?

Michigan (MI)

What is the quilt maker's maiden name?

Motl

What is the quilt maker's birthdate?

2/24/1871

What environment did the quilt maker(s) live in?

Urban

If applicable, when did the quilt maker die?

3/17/1967

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker?

Bohemian (Czech)

What is/was the last level of education completed by the quilt maker?

8th grade

What is/was the quilt maker's religious affiliation?

Congregational

What is/was the occupation of the quilt maker?

Worked for a tailor, then as a homemaker.

What is the quilt maker's father's name?

Motl, Franc

Where was the quilt maker's father born?

Austria

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker's father?

Bohemian (Czech)

What is the quilt maker's mother's name?

Motl, Ann Smely

Where was the quilt maker's mother born?

Austria

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker's mother?

Bohemian (Czech)

What is/was the ethnic or tribal background of the quilt maker's spouse?

English

What is/was the occupation of the quilt maker's spouse?

Lighting salesman and insurance salesman.

Did the quilt maker have children? If so, how many?

3

How many of the quilt maker's children were girls?

2

How many of the quilt maker's children were boys?

1

How did the quilt maker learn to quilt?

From Friend

When did the quilt maker begin making quilts?

Age 50 or over

Why does/did the quilt maker make quilts?

Therapy

If you chose Other, explain the why the quilt maker quilts.

Bozena was an accomplished needle worker when she leaarned to quilt from the Rebecca Jane Circle from her church.

How many quilt has the quilt maker made?

20-50 quilts

Has the quilt maker ever sold quilts?

yes

Has the quilt maker ever taught quilt making?

only informally

Did/does the quilt maker belong to a quilting group? If yes, name the group(s).

Rebecca Jane Circle

Where did/does the group meet?

Boulevard Congregational Church

What are the main activities of the group?

They quilted tops for each other and their friends.They also sewed items like aprons that they sold at the churchh's bazaars.

What type of quilted object is this?

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

73 3/4

How long is the quilt?

94

What is the shape of the quilt edge?

Straight

What is the shape of the corners?

Rounded

What color(s) is the quilt?

Brown, Green, Pink, White

Choose the best color scheme description for the quilt.

Multicolor

What is the best description of the quilt's condition?

Excellent/like new

If the quilt has an inscription, what type(s) of inscriptions are on the quilt?

Date, Message

Enter the exact inscription here, including dates in the same form in which they appear on the quilt. Do not correct any spellings.

Rose Basket Started Oct. 11, 1938 by Bozena Clarke-piecing finished in 1939-pieced top awarded third prize May 1940 in the Detroit News Quilt Show Quilted 1942 by Bozena V Clarke High School Graduation Gift to Harriet Ann Clarke June 1942

What is the date found on the quilt?

1939-42

How was the inscription made?

Attached label, Embroidery

If you chose Other, please describe the method used to inscribe the quilt.

cross stitch

Where is the inscription found on the quilt?

on back

What is the layout (or set) of the quilt?

Medallion or framed center

How many blocks are in the quilt?

3888

What size are the blocks?

1 x 1

How are the blocks arranged in the quilt?

Straight

How are the blocks spaced in the quilt?

Side by side

If one shape is used throughout the quilt, what is that shape?

Squares

How many borders are on the quilt?

5

Describe the style of the borders.

1 3/8", 1 1/4", 2 3/4", 1 5/8", 1 7/8"

What types of fiber were used to make the quilt top?

Cotton

What types of prints were used to make the quilt top?

Solid/plain

What piecing method was used to make the quilt top?

Hand Piecing

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

What fibers were used to make the quilt back?

Cotton

How many pieces of fabric were used to make the quilt back?

2

How do you describe the quilt back?

Same fabric used throughout

What fiber type was used to make the quilt binding?

Cotton

What is the structure of the fabric used to make the quilt binding?

Plain weave

What construction technique was used to finish the edge of the quilt?

Bias grain

What is the width of the binding (front side only)?

less than a half inch

What is the actual width of the binding (front side only)?

1/4

What is the fiber content of the quilt filling?

Cotton

Choose the thickness of the quilt filling that best describes the quilt.

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the quilt layers held together?

Hand quilting

How many quilting stitches are there per inch? Count only the stitches on the top.

7

Choose another spot on the quilt. How many quilting stitches are there per inch? Count only the stitches on the top.

7

Describe the overall quilt design.

Single parallel lines

Describe any decorative patterns used in the quilt design.

Cables

How did the quilt maker acquire the fabric for this quilt?

Purchased new

What is the source of the quilt's pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

If you chose Other, please explain where the pattern was found.

The pattern came from the Detroit News.

Enter the commercial name of the top's pattern if you know it.

Was probably an Ann Orr design.

List other materials that exisit about the quilt. This may include oral history, diaries, photos of the maker, templates, etc.

Image of quiltmaker, story of quitmaker in Michigan Quilt: 150 Years of a Textile Tradition by Ruth Fitzgerald and Marsha MacDowell; oral history told be her grand daughter, Harriet Clarke.

List publications where this quilt or maker was featured.

Image of quiltmaker, story of quitmaker in Michigan Quilt: 150 Years of a Textile Tradition by Ruth Fitzgerald and Marsha MacDowell; oral history told be her grand daughter, Harriet Clarke.

Who documented this quilt?

Quilt owner

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 did the owner acquire this quilt?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained.

This quilt was given as a gift to the quiltmakers granddaughter, Harriet Clarke for her high school graduation in 1942. Harriet donated it to the MSU Museum in 1985.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quilt maker.

Bozena read the Detroit News quilt columns and collected patterns from them.

Who photographed this quilt?

Fumio Ichikawa

Who is the copyright holder?

MSU Board of Trustees