Twelve Quilts of Christmas 2021 – #4

 

Starfish Quilt, Pembrokeshire, Wales, c. 1830-1850, 82” x 95”, Maker unknown.  From the Collection of the Quilt Association, Llanidloes.
 

These quilts hold so much history!  

 

From the museum website:  “This is a diamond in a square style quilt in buff and crimson with some very fine quilting. It was bought for the collection from a dealer who had acquired the quilt in Haverfordwest, south-west Wales.

 

The quilt measures 2356 x 2135 mm, and is made of worsted wool on the front, and linen on the reverse. Philip Sykas studied the quilt in September 2009 and explained that the worsted wool fabric was commonly used in women’s petticoats in the 18th century. However, this is a 19th century quilt because it is quilted with cotton thread. It was probably made between 1830 – 1850. The wadding is a thin layer of carded wool between two layers of worsted fabric.

 

The quilting in cream cotton thread features flowers, spirals, starfish and cables. The cable borders are typical Pembrokeshire designs. A tracing of the quilting has been made by three volunteers – it took two whole days to trace the entire design.”

 

It is so interesting … I never noticed the maritime motifs.  My eyes just went right to the urns and those amazing tulips in the corners of the central area.  The eye sees what the eye wants to see!

COMMENTS

  1. Regan Martin says...

    My eyes went straight to the gorgeous cabling, and then saw those graceful leaves flanking the tulip urns. Beautiful! Also, there’s something to be said about a museum describing the colors as ‘buff and crimson’ instead of boring old beige and red. They elevated it’s stature with those words, as it deserves!

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