QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-72

Description:

This quilt probably made in the late 1930s or early 1940s is missing. The quilt is a good example of Gasperik's exceptional quilting and appliqué skills. It also reflects her love of flowers.

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

068

This is a:

Finished quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Mom's Quilt

How wide is the quilt?

not known

How long is the quilt?

not known

Shape of edge:

Other

Describe the edge:

notched

Shape of corners:

Other

Describe the corners:

not known, pictures don't show corners

What color is the quilt?

Coral; Cream; Green; Orange; Pink; Purple; White; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

Quilt is missing. Luckily, 2 color photographs remain.

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1940s

Family/owner's date for quilt:

early 1940s

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

Two elements seen in this other quilts: #012 and #084, both of which are dated 1944.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

One very wide coral border.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

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

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

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:

Double parallel lines; Grid diamond; Patches outlined/in the ditch

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering; Floral; Other

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Grid/crosshatch; Parallel lines

Describe the quilting designs used:

Lily Bouquet quilted in center is a href="https://quiltindex.org//view/?type=publications&kid=18-121-21" target="_blank">Detroit News #1743-ID48 Lily Bouquet. Individual applique lilies made from this same pattern are appliqued around the wreath. These lilies appear to be cut from the same fabric as the lilies in framed applique #084 (which Gasperik made for daughter Elsie and dated 1944). Quilting pattern C5580 in Aunt Martha's Answer To How To Quilt It appears 8 times on this quilt. Gasperik quilted this same pattern into two other quilts: Bridal Bouquet quilt #012 (dated 1944) and quilt #024 (the undated burgundy Leaf and Vine). The violets appliqued on this quilt may be from the same pattern and fabric as those appliqued onto quilt #012 (dated 1944). It appears to Salser that at least some of the colorful pansies seen on this quilt were used in the unfinished floral bouquet quilt (#004, dated 1933), where they were added to Wurtzburg kit #3555. Salser believes those patterns came from Nancy Cabot. In other words this quilt, like so many other Gasperik quilts, is an amalgam which Gasperik created from lots of 1930s pattern sources. There may be a kit at the root of it, but a great deal has been added to that kit.

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

Gasperik has probably included floral appliques from various quilt projects--notice how the Pansy and Calla Lilies are oversized in comparison to the other flowers.

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

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

It is not known what became of this quilt, but thought that Gasperik had used it on her own bed. This is why the family calls it Mom's quilt. Gasperik may have given this quilt away (in which case it could possibly survive) or, more likely, it was one of the items in a trunk of Gasperik needlework which rotted and was discarded long after her death.

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Quilt is presently used as:

Unknown

Describe present uses of the quilt:

Quilt is missing.

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

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?

Detroit News Lily Bouquet 1743-ID48, feather pattern C5580 from 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:

Components of this quilt may come from other quilt projects (note the ribbons found in other projects) and the Calla Lily Bouquet used several times in other quilts. Pansies, and other individual flowers, may be from Nancy Cabot.

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:

All that now exists of this quilt are two family photos: one of them (circa 1960s taken in East Hazelcrest yard of Gasperik home) shows an unidentified older couple holding up the quilt for the camera. The other photograph shows the interior of the quilt hanging from what looks like a wooden quilt display case. This indicates the quilt WAS exhibited somewhere.

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:

Mary Gasperik made quilts because it was her life passion and greatest talent. As opportunities arose, she entered contests and exhibited them publicly. She also made special quilts for her family.

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?

unknown

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Susan Salser

Details