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I am a quilter living in Woodbridge, Suffolk who has made quilts since I was a teenager. I also ring bells! Both are great British traditions....I will try to feature some of my antique Welsh and Durham quilts, the quilts I make myself, my quilting activities and also some of my bellringing achievements. Plus as many photos as I can manage. NB: Double click on the photos to see greater detail, then use back button to return to the main page.













Thursday 9 October 2014

Bowes Museum Exhibition Catalog, 1963

 Here is a small catalog that I bought recently. It dates from 1963 and relates to an exhibition of quilts held at the Bowes Museum, and sponsored by Durham County Council. The Womens Institute also seems to have had a major involvement in this exhibition, if the credits are anything to go by!


There were 40 quilts shown....each is described and the owner or maker is given. Most were loaned by private individuals, although some of these quilts have now made their way into museum collections.


Only a few illustrations of quilts, but each quilt is given a short description...the quilts are grouped as follows: Northumberland quilts, Durham quilts, Cumberland quilts, Westmoreland quilts and Yorkshire quilts (the last three, rather small groups!) Templates and quilting frames were also on display.



A few photos are given, but the quilt photography "was of a very difficult nature". Do you recognise any of these?


Two more details...an embroidered quilt and one made by Elizabeth Sanderson....



And a detail of the quilted lid of a yew wood box, made near Ullswater.

This catalog deserves further perusal, to see if there are any clues to be gleaned....

2 comments:

  1. That basket quilt is on the cover of the newer Beamish collection book, which just happened to be next to the keyboard when I read your post. I think I've seen a red version in another of my English books. SO glad modern photography does justice to these old quilts.

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