This lovely post card arrived in the mail today from my Aussie friend Elaine, currently in London. The message was “Thinking of you, just seen the most magnificent display of antique quilts here in London”. It’s certainly a case of wishing I was there too. I am to blame for Elaine taking up quilting – and she is a real quilting addict now.
The magnificent quilt on the postcard was made in 1820 by Ann West. It is covered in appliqué figures of birds and animals and figures of many people. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to see it hanging with all the others on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London.
We visited the V & A during our UK trip in 2008 with the express purpose of looking through the Textile Room. Examples are displayed in glass covered pull out slides, enabling the public to really study the pieces of cloth. There are woven, printed and embroidered examples on display. I was particularly interested in the medieval fabric and marvelled that such examples have been preserved and are able to be viewed by anyone with an interest in textiles.
1 comment:
Great postcard - it is a stunning quilt and like you say, amazing that such things survive so well.
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