Sophia Wilbow
Name
Sophia Wilbow
Other names
PAYTON, Sophia Mary
Culture
Australian
Gender
Female
Birth date
8 February 1829
Birth place
Pitt Town, New South Wales, Australia View on map Close map
Death date
27 July 1924
Death Place
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia View on map Close map
Occupations
Artist (textile) | Decorative / design artist
NGA IRN
23692
Context
Australia
Biography
Sophia Wilbow
Sophia Mary Payton was born near Pitt Town, NSW on 8 February 1829. In 1846 she married Thomas Wilbow, a farmer and publican in the Hawkesbury River district of New South Wales. They had fourteen children, eight of whom were girls. She made quilts for each of the seven daughters who reached adulthood. As well as making patchwork, Sophia Wilbow was an enthusiastic embroiderer.
The ANG's quilt was made for her youngest daughter Jane, a nurse, who never married. It is believed that some of the fabrics in the quilt were cut from Jane's nurses uniforms. The others are from Farmer Bros. department store fabric samples. This quilt, like others, was made by Sophia Wilbow as she nursed her husband through a long illness prior to his death in 1896.
Sophia Wilbow died at Haberfield, Sydney on 27 July 1924.
Last Updated
04 Nov 2021