Hungarian Harvest Festival Quilt, 1930-1949
Mary Gasperik, born in Hungary, embraced American quilt making, producing about 100 quilts in the 1930s through 1950s, 66 of which won prizes.
“Hungarian Harvest Festival” straddles Mary Gasperik’s old and new countries, with its dancers in traditional folk costume appliquéd onto a cotton ground. Her extensive use of embroidery on her quilts—unusual in 20th century quilting—also shows the influence of her Hungarian textile heritage. Gasperik also embroidered and appliquéd clothing for her daughter and granddaughter, and embroidered many household textiles in traditional Hungarian techniques.
Lent by The Elmer Gasperik Collection, Heirs: Michael, Robert, and David Gasperik and Kathryn Gasperik Jacobs
2: Mary Gasperik with her granddaughter Susan Salser in a dress with appliqués, made by Gasperik. Courtesy Susan Salser.
3: Maria (Mary) Mihalovits, later Gasperik, at left, wearing traditional Hungarian dress in Chicago about 1905-6. Courtesy of Susan Salser.