Quilt, Hawaiian Quilt Square

Date1980-1995

Maker Rose Lokelani Lum Tam-Hoy (1923 - 2011)

MediumCotton, polyester

Dimensions20" x 22 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Lisa Noelani Tam-Hoy Robbins

Object number2012.609.6,3

DescriptionThis is a quilted square with four red symmetrical floral and leaf motifs growing at the ends of a central X or cross shape. The red motifs are appliqued to a white ground by turning under the raw edges and sewing with hidden stitches to the ground fabric. The piece is quilted through polyester batting and cotton backing in "contour quilting" style at 8 stitches per inch. The piece has unfinished edges, originally intended to be made into a pillow or a study document.
Label TextThis quilt square is one of three made by Rose Lokelani Lum Tam-Hoy (1923-2011), a Hawaiian quilter and teacher from Honolulu. This square shows the technique with the applique and contour quilting finished, but the edges left raw. Mrs. Tam-Hoy learned to quilt from her mother, Agnes Kahoe. Rose Tam-Hoy went on to teach quilting at the Mission Houses Museum, and squares such as this may have been used as demonstration projects. This is one of the last pieces made by Mrs. Tam-Hoy before she stopped quilting.
ProvenanceRose Lokelani Lum Tam-Hoy [1923-2011] (Honolulu, Hawaii); by descent to her son and daughter-in-law, Harold Man Fong Tam-Hoy and Arlene Cora DeSilva Tam-Hoy; by descent to their daughter, Lisa Noelani Tam-Hoy Robbins (Newport News, Virginia); 2012-present, given to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.