QUILT INDEX RECORD

18-14-73

Description:

This 1933 quilt is one of the first Gasperik attempted. She did not finish it. One wonders if Gasperik’s willingness to abandon this project might be related to the following observation [from Hungarian Decorative Folk Art, Second Edition, Budapest, 1957, page 5]: “Typical of Hungarian folk art is the preference for certain colours, such as various shades of red, and the avoidance of others, such as yellow or purple”. Two other unfinished 1933 quilt projects are: Floral Bouquet (#004) and Giant Dahlia (#015).

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Mary Gasperik Legacy Project

Who documented this quilt?

Mary Gasperik Private Collection

Gasperik Legacy Project Number:

072

This is a:

Other

Describe the item:

Quilt was partially quilted.

Quilt's title:

Iris

Owner's name for quilt:

Iris

How wide is the quilt?

?? inches

How long is the quilt?

?? inches

What color is the quilt?

Gold; Green; Lavender; Purple

Overall color scheme:

Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Damage:

Other

Describe the damage:

Owner removed original quilting and replaced backing

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

Quiltmaker's grand-daughter removed the original quilting because she felt the stitches were too big and knots were visible on the outside. She also removed the backing, on which Gasperik had embroidered her initials and the year 1933, but saved this piece separately.

Type of inscription:

Date; Initials

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"M - G 1933"

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

Time period:

1930-1949

When was the quilt finished?

1933

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1933

Date estimated by an antique dealer, quilt historian or appraiser:

1933

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Merikay Waldvogel

Further information concerning dates:

Based on embroidered inscription.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Subject of the quilt:

Iris

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Hexagons

Describe the borders:

"Ice cream cone" border in purple and yellow. Typical 1930s border.

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Gold

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

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

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Selected by daughter Elsie during a division of quilts after Gasperik died in 1969. After Elsie died and her 3 daughters divided up the quilts, Karen selected this one. She later gave it to sister Linda, who harbored ambitions of completing it.

Why was the quilt made?

Personal enjoyment

The quilt was made to be used for:

Unknown

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?

Commercial/Published source: Pattern

Commercial name of the pattern for the top:

Possibly Mountain Mist R - Iris (copyright 1930)

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:

Mountain Mist batting wrapper pattern R - Iris.

When Linda had ambitions of completing this Gasperik quilt, she removed the original gold Gasperik backing but saved the piece onto which Gasprik embroidered, in purple thread, her initials and the year 1933 (Linda MacLachlan, private collection).

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Linda Krueger MacLachlan

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:

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

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Hank Finn

Details

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