1870 - 1886 Margaret Tormey's Crazy-patched Quilt Top

Description:

It took Margaret Tormey sixteen years to carefully craft this 86-inch quilt top, dated 1886, and two matching pillow shams. She included campaign and club ribbons that name New York and Brooklyn; printed silks from the Robinson Company with such motifs as the Statue of Liberty; and brocaded silk pictures to personalize her project. Examples of chromolithograph printing on silk are also found on the quilt top. A multitude of embroidered motifs typical of the era embellish the crazy-patchwork.

Margaret McNamara was born in Ireland (about 1835) and immigrated with her family to the United States about 1848. In 1861 she married Patrick Tormey, who was also born in Ireland (about 1835) and immigrated as a teenager. They lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. Patrick, a Civil War veteran, was keeper of the Brooklyn City Hall for many years. He died in 1900. Margaret died in 1910.

Date Made: 1870-1886

Maker: Tormey, Margaret McNamara

Location: Currently not on view

Subject: Quilting

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Textiles, Government, Politics, and Reform, Cultures & Communities, Quilts, Textiles, Domestic Furnishings

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Miss Miriam M. Tormey

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: TE.T12927Accession Number: 247329Catalog Number: T12927

Object Name: quiltquilt top

Physical Description: fabric, silk, velvet, satin, ribbon (overall material)thread, silk, cotton, chenille (overall material)Measurements: overall: 86 in x 86 in; 218 cm x 218 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-9c1c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_556415

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