Mrs. Oxtoby’s Quilts - The Trunk in the Attic

by Celia Eddy
published: 18/11/2008
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One might think, in this day and age, that there were no more treasures to be unearthed in attics, that by now any hidden antiques or treasures had been searched out and sold on Ebay. Not so. When Mrs. Oxtoby’s mother died inn 2007 her house in Wigton, West Cumbria, had to be completely cleared and made ready for sale. In the attic, sure enough, there was a trunk. It contained no fewer than four quilts, mostly in good condition although showing some signs of use and wear. When I saw them, I was delighted to note that, although of different patterns, they were all quilted in the same way, which is to say with the distinctive, West Coast All Over Wave pattern. All four quilts are pieced entirely in cotton fabrics and hand-quilted. Their presence in Wigton, together with the pattern, were sufficient evidence of their local provenance. The fabric and style of the quilts is typical of the sort of functional quilts made around the mid-late 19th century or early 20th century.

I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire them from Mrs. Oxtoby earlier this year (2008) and, when I met her, she told me that members of the family had recollections of the quilts and were able to provide some provenance. Mrs. Oxtoby’s parents were close friends with two sisters who lived near them. They were Sarah and Mary McMechan and they lived over the shop which their father, Thomas McMechan (1828 –1914). Neither of them married. Older members of Mrs. Oxtoby’s family are sure that the quilts were made by Mary and Sarah and say that they were given to Mrs. Oxtoby’s parents on their marriage. This, of course, doesn’t provide us with a date for the making of the quilts but we know that Mary was born in 1873 and died in 1959, aged 86. Mary’s dates mean that it is possible that she could have made the quilts when she was in her thirties or forties.

The two quilts shown in the picture are a graphically striking Turkey red and white quilt composed from concentric squares. This quilt shows some signs of wear but is basically in excellent condition. The other quilt is a traditional pieced stripy, which has clearly been well used and washed so is a little faded, although there is no damage to the fabric.The other two quilts are a pink and white checkerboard pattern, with the pink squares arranged diagonally across the surface, pieced in a slightly thicker and more shiny fabric than the others, and a Single Irish Chain quilt in blue and white which is rather worn and faded.

I hope to be able to find out more about the McMechan sisters as there may be more of their quilts still to be discovered in other ownership.

© Celia Eddy