1880 - 1886 Margaret Tormey's Crazy Patched Pillow Sham

1880 - 1886 Margaret Tormey's Crazy Patched Pillow Sham

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Description
This pillow sham is one of two (TE.T12928.00A) that Margaret Tormey carefully crafted to match an 86-inch quilt top, dated 1886 (TE.T12927). Crazy patchwork frames a central focus of a nosegay of pansies and blueberries painted on satin with the intiials EFC. Vignettes of birds and grasses printed in blue gray on satin, and a few embroidered motifs (flag, fan, sunburst, star, butterfly) decorate the sham. A 3 ½-inch blue velvet border is machine-stitched to the center. All three objects are in the Collection.
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, and Margaret died in 1910.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Sham, Quilted
date made
1880-1886
maker
Tormey, Margaret McNamara
place made
United States: New York, Brooklyn
Physical Description
thread, silk, cotton (overall material)
fabric, silk, satin, velvet (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 30 in x 32 in; 76 cm x 8 cm
ID Number
TE.T12928.00B
accession number
247329
catalog number
T12928B
Credit Line
Gift of Miss Miriam M. Tormey
subject
Quilting
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Textiles
Domestic Furnishings
Textiles
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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