Blue Durham - from Wales

Here is another quilt from Wales - it came from an antique store in Cowbridge in South Wales which apparently had a plentiful supply of quilts and blankets - alas, the store is long gone now. Although bought in Wales, this quilt is clearly a Durham quilt, and one that was a marked top. The design is a complex one, and incorporates many North Country motifs. Yet, I feel that this quilt may be another top which was quilted by a Welsh quilter, for the details feel rather Welsh.


The quilt size is 80 x 90 inches. As a central design, there is a rose in a ring surrounded by leaves and feathers.

Another view of the centre motif. Nicely quilted....

In each corner of the quilt there is another rose or flower, surrounded by a feather wreath.

The outside border is a swag, topped by a petalled flower. There is a background grid of diamonds.

The quilt did come from a Welsh shop - and the edge looks very Welsh in its treatment as it is neatly handsewn. Also, there is a thick woollen blanket which is a typical filling for a Welsh quilter to use.

There is a nice motif, a large plume. This quilt looks in very reasonable condition, and does not appear to have been used much. As is often the case with old quilts, there are one or two small stains, and one or two spots of house paint. Used as a drop sheet? or more likely, just around when the room was being painted. A very nice quilt, nicely quilted. I just wish that we had the full story with these quilts! and could ask how a Durham quilt came to be located, and perhaps quilted, in south Wales.