QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-46

Description:

In this 1944 wedding quilt Gasperik tapped multiple sources to create an original design. She transposed a Detroit News Lily quiltING pattern into an appliqué lily at the bouquet's center. Other appliquéd floral designs in the bouquet may have come from Nancy Cabot/Chicago Tribune. The appliquéd flower girl is likely Gasperik's assemblage of ideas from multiple sources. For example, Gasperik might have taken her idea to embroider sausage curls under the girl's bonnet from a W.L.M. Clark (Grandmother Clark) set of quilt block patterns called Poster Girls advertised in Herrschner catalogs 1935-1937. The ferns and feathers quilted in abundance on this and other quilts came from an Aunt Martha quilting booklet.

Essay:

Of all the Gasperik quilts, this 1944 ‘Bridal Bouquet’ bears the greatest profusion of one of Gasperik’s favorite quiltING patterns – the fern leaf. Gasperik quilted these ferns onto at least 16 different quilts. Her pattern source was ‘Aunt Martha’ , which marketed the pattern (#C5573) based on its extensive use in the grand-prize-winning quilt of the Sears Contest of 1933, the famous “Star of the Bluegrass” submitted by Margaret Caden of Kentucky. It was probably seeing the Sears Contest quilts on display at the Century of Progress Chicago World’s Fair of 1933-34 that introduced Gasperik to quiltmaking and launched what became her life’s work. That particular pattern seems to have held particular significance, explaining why she used it so often and so creatively. In that same Aunt Martha booklet is pattern C5580, a large and elaborate sculptured feather motif which Gasperik quilted onto a second bridal quilt made for a special family member, Karen’s ‘Bridal Bouquet’ quilt #064, made in 1956. This same motif is the major quiltING focus of a third Gasperik quilt, the elegant ‘Leaf and Vine (Burgundy) #024, an undated quilt. In her quiltING, Gasperik selected and repeated particular motifs with great care, creating a body of work which was identifiably hers.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

012

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Bridal Bouquet

Owner's name for quilt:

Bridal Bouquet (Doris and Elmer Gasperik)

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Wedding Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

73 inches

How long is the quilt?

96 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Coral; Green; White

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Date

What is inscribed on the quilt?

1944

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1944

Method used to make the inscription:

In the quilting

Location of inscription:

other

Describe where the inscription was found:

1944 is quilted into the four white center hexagons above the wedding bells at the top of the quilt.

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1944

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1944

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

Quilt made as a wedding gift for Elmer and Doris Gasperik in 1944.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Subject of the quilt:

Wedding

Describe the quilt setting:

Elongated center panel is bordered with a row of white hexagons and a row of green hexagons.

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Hexagons

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

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

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

note the embroidered curls of the flower girl

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the back:

Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch; Grid diamond; In-the-ditch; Patches outlined/in the ditch

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Floral; Other

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Grid/crosshatch; Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

Fern quiltING design lines the inner edge of the coral panel; broad sweeping feather plumes fill the outer white areas.

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

This special quilt with elaborate quilting and minute applique depicted in the wedding bouquet, as well as in the flower girl, is an example of the exceptional needlework skills Gasperik developed.

Quilt top made by:

Gasperik, Mary

Quilted by:

Gasperik, Mary

Where the quilt was made, city:

Chicago

Where the quilt was made, county:

Cook County

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Inheritance

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

Describe present uses of the quilt:

Mary's grandchildren regard her quilts as a unique collection to be preserved and appreciated.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Describe the source of the pattern:

Gasperik used the Detroit News Applique Lily Design (Leaflet #1743-ID48). And Nancy Cabot #32.8 and #32.83 (Chicago Tribune) patterns may be the design source for the Lilies of the Valley.

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Published material

What is the commercial name of the quilting design used for this quilt?

Fern quilting motif is #C5573 and large feather motif is #C5580 - "Aunt Martha's Answer To 'How Shall I Quilt It?'"

Describe anything about the design of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

Unusual for a Gasperik quilt, this one lacks even one border, but its broad expanse of of white ground filled with large feather motifs, edged with a narrow pale green binding, creates an equivalent frame for the medallion bouquet.

The style of this wedding bouquet, with its long drooping ribbons and bending stalks of lily of the valley mixed in with larger flowers, is reminiscent of traditional Hungarian bridal costume (in which ribbons droop down from the bride's headdress, past her face). Gasperik’s embroidered appliqué bouquet also resembles traditional Hungarian floral embroidery – both the plump flowers and the flat traditional white cutwork embroideries known as Madeira Work and Richelieu Work (also called riselin) for which needlework from Kalocsa is especially famous.

Gasperik might easily have adapted the Nancy Cabot pattern called Violet Block to create the two clusters of appliqué pansies appearing in the upper right and left corners of the medallion of this quilt. The pattern appeared in The Chicago Tribune 8-9-1935 (p 169-NC, Index to the Nancy Cabot Quilt Blocks M-Z compiled by Rose Lea Alboum, American Legacy Quilt Index, copyright 2005 by Rose Lea Alboum]. Gasperik frequently used Cabot patterns and many Cabot clippings from her hometown newspaper are pasted into Gasperik’s quilt album [private collection, Karen Finn].

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Illinois State Fair, 1946

Illinois State Fair , 1953

The Quilts of Mary Gasperik, Ravenswood Historic Site, Livermore, CA, March 14-15, 1992.

This is one of the 23 Mary Gasperik quilts exhibited in the Carnegie Room of the Marion Indiana Public Library July 16-17, 2021 in connection with the ceremony honoring the induction of Mary Gasperik into The Quilters Hall of Fame as their 2021 Legacy Quilter honoree. Mary Gasperik Quilters Hall of Fame Induction Exhibit.

Contests entered:

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Merikay 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.

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

Letter from Miss Veronica Gavin to Mary Gasperik, dated Aug 17, 1946 reading "In my visit of [sic] the sewing building at State Fair yesterday I couldn't forget the two beautiful quilts which belonged to you. I especially like the "daisies won't tell" pattern and also the wedding design, so if it wouldn't be too much trouble & asking too much of you I would appreciate having both the wedding pattern and the daisy one."

1946 Illinois State Fair Blue ribbon in private collection of Elmer Gasperik heirs with attached cardboard tag reading "Illinois State Fair 1946 No. 3313, Class K, Lot 128, Prem. 4195 Ent 3 Most artistic quilt". It is likely that this ribbon was attached to this quilt.

The East Hazelcrest News issue No. 18, dated Sept. 23,1953, published by American Legion Post 1139 mentions that "one of the women of our village, Mrs. Stephen Gasperik, was awarded 2 first prizes & a second prize at the Ill/ State Fair for her quilts. The 2 first were given for her 'Delectable Mountain' quilt & 'Bridal Bouquet'. The second place ribbon was placed on her 'Indiana Wreath'. Last year she won a 1st & two 3rds. Quilting is almost a lost art, requiring a tremendous amount of patience & skill with a needle." Elmer Gasperik heirs, private collection.

Kalocsa kincse/Treasures of Kalocsa, Kati Fejer, 2006, Budapest, Hungary (collection of Susan Salser) presents excellent photographs, text and some instructional traditional needlework patterns. "We know that ladies in Transylvania and the Matyo region of Hungary also embroider Kalocsa designs..." (p 124). Gasperik was from Transylvania.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Elmer Gasperik heirs - Kathy Jacob contact

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Person filling out this form is:

Relative of quiltmaker; Author/researcher

If you are a relative of the quiltmaker, how are you related? The quiltmaker is my:

Grandmother

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Grand-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.

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Mihalovits, Maria

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

01/25/1888

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

11/18/1906

Quiltmaker's date of death:

05/25/1969

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Elementary School

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Rural

Quiltmaker's city:

Chicago

Quiltmaker's county:

Cook

Quiltmaker's state:

Illinois (IL)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Mihalovits, Istvan

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Mihalovits, Vidoszava

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Hungary

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Gasperik, Stephen

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

Hungarian

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

Milk Dealer/Grocery Store Owner/Butcher

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1 (Elsie 1909-1988)

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2 (Elmer and Stephen)

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From guild or club member; Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Pleasure; Other

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

To exhibit in shows held by her Tuley Park quilt club in Chicago, the Detroit News quilt show in Detroit, many Illinois State Fairs, at least one Indiana State Fair. She entered quilts in at least 2 Chicago department store contests. She made at least one quilt and one quilt top specifically for the 1939 New York Worlds Fair quilt contest. She also made children's quilts specifically for grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and wedding and wedding anniversary quilts for her son Elmer and grand-daughter Karen. Primarily, she wanted to make quilts because it was her life passion and her greatest talent. The occasions and venues to show them presented themselves. It should be noted that prior to Mary's emigration to America in late 1904, at age 16, she was an apprenticed needleworker in her native Hungary. The intricate and colorful floral embroideries traditional to Hungary lend themselves especially well to applique, the quilt style Mary preferred.

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Tuley Park Quilt Club and Detroit News Quilt Club

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group?

Southside Chicago and Detroit MI

What are the main activities of the group?

Chicago group met to quilt and held periodic quilt shows; Detroit group held national exhibits and contests.

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

more than 50

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Who photographed this quilt?

Don Gonzalez

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Hank Finn

Details

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