Recently, I was happy to find this piece of patchwork, which is made from older fabrics. Most of my whole cloth quilts are of a post 1880 date, so I was pleased to find this top, which seems to date from 1840-1850.
Although the photos of the item were not good, I went ahead and bought it on the well known auction site, as the item was at the bargain price of £12.99....was very pleased to receive it and find it so attractive.....lovely fabrics in a rough medallion style top. Nice to be able to see the reverse of the fabrics, too.
Some of the patches have a woven appearance and seem to be small pieces of wool shawls, pieced together, as if damaged but still useful or precious remnants were being saved...
The fabrics are unfaded....the seller was from Gloucestershire, and had been given this piece by a friend - it had been previously used as a backdrop for a school play! The fabrics are very colourful, but there are no bright reds or purples. There are many greens and "rainbow" or ombre fabrics.
Most of the pieces are of medium size.....some double pinks....
Many florals...
Stripes in various forms...
The centre of this top is this oriental style piece - other bits are also to be seen - it looks either like a wood block print, or a printed imitation of a woodblock....I will hope to take this to the BQSG seminar next month.....held this year in Manchester...and will hope to find out more about the fabrics and possible date of this piece.
