This is very much a typical bed quilt - made in the Rhondda vallies about 1910-1930. The Art Deco fabric is known variously as Earth Flower, Mushroom Flower and Nature Print, it shows a stylised bunch of flowers and came in a variety of colour ways. One side is grey with pinks and browns - the reverse has cream with blues, browns and greens. The size is 80 x 80 inches. Condition is very good with little wear and no fading.
It was hard to capture the quilting, it is somewhat coarse but effective - it consists of simple twists, crosshatching and a central spiral or circular motif. The wadding is carded wool.
A closeup of the two fabrics - rather cheerful, I think.
The corner of the quilt, showing the hand sewn edge, which is typical of Welsh quilts. This quilt is a very heavy quilt, as it has a woollen blanket inside, and would have been a very warm quilt in use. I wonder why these quilts were never used - were they kept for "special" or were they just considered old fashioned?
The corner of the quilt, showing the hand sewn edge, which is typical of Welsh quilts. This quilt is a very heavy quilt, as it has a woollen blanket inside, and would have been a very warm quilt in use. I wonder why these quilts were never used - were they kept for "special" or were they just considered old fashioned?
The little blobby flowers appear as a motif in Japanese textiles, a stylised version of the chrysanthemum. I wonder if that's how they came into Art Deco fabrics?
ReplyDeleteInteresting that the quilt has been so little used.
Correction - I see that I was saying two different things about the wadding above - went and had a feel - both are sort of correct as there is a ribbed feel to the quilt, meaning that there is likely to be an old quilt inside. It was common to recover old quilts. Now, before you think "masterpiece" I did have a peek inside one of my other quilts which is a similar type - inside was a very oridnary and rather worn country quilt in a beige colour - nothing very exciting!! Pippa
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I have one old Welsh quilt (not in good condition, probably used as a dog blanket), which seems to have about 4 layers inside. They just seemed to put new fabrics on top of the old ones.
ReplyDeleteI like the fabric on your quilt.
Jane