A PIECED AND APPLIQUED COTTON QUILTED COVERLET

Details

A PIECED AND APPLIQUED COTTON QUILTED COVERLET
MADE BY LETHA MCLARNEY, 1936

Worked in thirty-five squares of various fire fighting motifs including bullhorn, hat, boots, hydrant, bucket, station, and truck and the letters "S", "D", "F", "D" with blue sashing on a cream diamond-stitched ground, with a blue binding--63 x 86in.

Lot Essay

This quilt was made by Letha McLarney of San Diego, California, wife of Captain E.F. McLarney of Engine Company No. 2. The fire engine is modelled on the 1000 Gallon Pumper at his station, Fire Station No. 2. The other emblems are also based on actual objects. Engineer J.P. Feill of Captain McLarney's staff took the drawings for them, and the quilt-maker then traced them onto the quilt ground. Mrs. McLarney worked on the quilt from 1933 to 1936 and presented it to her husband as a tribute to his life career as a fire fighter.