Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Kelley, Helen |
Object Name |
Quilt, Wall Hanging |
Title |
France |
Date |
2000/ / |
Description |
Helen Kelley's label card, which came with the quilt, says: "15. France - This cafe is found in the town Yvoire. In the background you can see the ancient town wall. The first, and most useless phrase that is taught to a beginning French student in America is about "my aunt" and "her pen which is on the table." Notice that the "aunt" on this quit has a pen on the table in front of her." Machine pieced and hand appliqued quilt which depicts a cafe balcony overlooking a row of six adjoining two-story buildings. A tower from an unseen building projects above the roofs in the center. The eye is drawn into the scene with the strong black lines of an appliqued balustrade and the parallel corner of a white table in the foreground. On the table are two appliqued wine glasses with embroidered details, the outline of a sheet of paper, and a blue fountain pen. There is a series of rough silhouettes of cafe patrons at the table and extending to the proper right in grayish-lavender fabric. An area of greenery at the lower proper left corner is balanced with the frame and cover of a tan awning extending across the proper upper right corner. Two groups of red flowers are appliqued along the balustrade. The date "2000" appears in the lower proper left corner in blue stem stitch. The fabric prints are chosen to imitate stone, masonry, tile and foliage. The hand quilting averages 9 stitches to the inch in white thread. It follows the lines of the architectural design, but includes swirling lines in the sky and the facial features and clothing of the first silhouette. On the table is quilted "Cafe Noir", "Bonjour", and "Menu" in double lines of script. Thin batting. The white muslin back is designed like a postcard. Helen Kelley's label card on the back says: "15. France - This cafe is situated above the ancient town wall in Yvoire. The shadow-woman illustrates the phrase that everyone learns in French Lesson I, "The pen of my aunt is on the table." Hand embroidered in dark blue chain stitch in the address position are these four lines: "La plume de ma tate est sur lan table." "The pen of my aunt is on the table." "French lesson I". "Helen Kelley". The stamp cancellation is the name, date and number of the quilt in a circle: "France Sept 1999 XV". This is done in dark gray stem stitch. The stamp is a toile in blue on cream depicting an eighteenth century lady on a swing. Below it in script is "Made in France." It is edged with narrow black and white striped fabric. The cancellation is seven lines of dark gray stem stitch. A white hanging sleeve is appliqued over the stamp end. Two labels are applied near one end of the hanging sleeve: a printed Minnesota Quilt Project label, Documentation #HK09, and on the date line "021". Below it is a piece of gold fabric with pinked edges and the hand-written number "086", underlined. |
Artist |
Helen Kelley |
Dimensions |
W-48.75 L-34.5 inches |
People |
Kelley, Helen |
Source |
Lee, Ingred |
Object ID |
2016.006.015 |