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Lone star quilt with half square triangle border
Detail of corner star and border
Measurements are 220 cm x 225 cm
Barnsley Museums Collection
This worn and faded quilt in 'Lone Star' design is hand-pieced and hand-quilted with bound edges and dates possibly between 1860 - 1880. The patterned fabrics, mainly in browns, greys, pinks and pale greens appear to be mainly dress fabrics. The quilt is interesting in two ways: firstly, it is signed "Ellen Oxley" in the top left-hand corner in neat cross-stitch. Secondly, the 'Lone Star' pattern is generally assumed to be an American pattern but this quilt is quilted around the edges with North Country quilting patterns: rosettes, leaves and running feather. The central star is quilted in simple parallel lines. A much finer quilt of a similar design with an additional deep border and North Country quilting is featured in Dorothy Osler's book which accompanied the 'new acquisitions' exhibition at the Bowes Museum in 2021.
Detail "Ellen Oxley"
The maker has added her name Ellen Oxley in neat, pale blue cross stitch.
Close-up of Ellen Oxley stitched name
