QUILT INDEX RECORD

5-2-96

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Illinois State Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Illinois Quilt Research Project; Illinois State Museum Collection

Alternate inventory control number:

1995.159.3

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library or Institution

Quilt owner's name:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's Name (top):

Stenge, Bertha

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

What is the quiltmaker's birthdate?

1891 CA

Date and place of quiltmaker's death:

1957 IL

What is/was the quiltmaker's religious affiliation?

Jewish

Was the quiltmaker married? If yes, when?

1912

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Stenge, Bernard

Spouse's occupation:

attorney

Did the quiltmaker have any children? If so, how many?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

3

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Sheramsky, Frances Malina

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Sheramsky, Harry

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Anything else we should know about the quiltmaker?

6 other quilts by Bertha in Museum's collection.

How did the owner get the quilt?

Gift

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

Why was the quilt made? Was it made for a special occasion?

Art or personal expression

Where the quilt was made, city:

Chicago

Where the quilt was made, county:

Cook

Where the quilt was made, state:

Illinois (IL)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Anything else we should know about this quilt? (i.e. customs, stories):

Purchased and given to the Museum by the Frank Mason family.

Has this quilt been exhibited/displayed? Explain:

"A Cut and Stitch Above." Springfield, IL, Illinois State Museum.

List other materials available about this quilt. This may include oral history, articles, additional photos or publications, etc.

See The Living Museum, v. 59, no. 1 & 2, 1997, pp. 10-13. Quilt was also mentioned in article, "Quilts as Art," about Bertha Stenge in Newsweek magazine, August 2, 1943, p. 91.

Date owner signed the form:

1995

Pattern name; used by owner or by maker:

Iva's Pincushion

Date provided by maker/owner:

1936

Date estimated by IQRP:

1936

Who estimated the quilt's date?

Jan Wass, Curator

Time period:

1930-1949

Length:

89

Width:

84

Medallion size:

primarily turquoise with accents of cinnamon.

Quilting stitches per inch. Are they even?

12

Quilting stitches per inch (in a second spot on the quilt):

11

Format:

Finished quilt

Applique techinques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Construction (top):

Medallion or framed center

Fabric; fibers:

Other blends

Fabric print:

Print; Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

cotton and rayon blend

Predominant colors (top):

Cream

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Feathering

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Grid/crosshatch

Describe the quilting designs used:

Feathered plumes, chevrons and stars in stuffed work, diagonal grid in background.

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting; Corded; Stuffed work

What type of thread was used for the quilting?

cotton

What color was the quilting thread?

cream

Knots visible?

no

Describe the borders:

Appliqued border, handsewn.

Binding and edge treatment:

Bias grain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

Fabric structure of the binding:

Plain weave

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

less than a half inch

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

Filler:

Cotton

Thickness:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

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

1 (1 piece front as well)

Backing; fiber content:

Other

Description of the back:

cotton and rayon blend--same as front

Backing; fabric:

Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Backing; color:

Cream

Condition:

Very good/almost new

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

Has hanging sleeve.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Illinois State Museum

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Sheramsky, Bertha