Thursday 18 March 2010

Quilts 1700-2010 Victoria and Albert Museum London - the George III Quilt.

This is a famous quilt, apparently often shown in books but rarely on display.
I have to admit I did not know about it until yesterday but I will not easily forget it! Made in 1803 you will be hard pressed to find a finer example of applique and piecing anywhere.
This is another one that you must go and see!


This is the central applique motif.
Not only is the piecing tiny with many pieces in each motif but it is circular!




And all around the borders are these stunning applique scenes, which must be of as much importance to historians as they are to quilters.

As I heard someone remark yesterday - you would travel to London just to see one of these quilts never mind the whole exhibition.
The overwhelming feeling for me today is the pride of being a British quilter. So many times I have felt that Americans had a better quilting heritage than us but this exhibition is going to do a lot to show that much of the American quilting heritage originated in Britain.



7 comments:

Davina said...

I so wish I was going there this weekend!! I will have to wait until the end of May now. Nice to see all your photos it looks like you had a good time down there.

Cheryl Willis said...

just beautiful- how wonderful to get to see it in person. Do you know the history as to why this piece was made- is it a commissioned piece? cw

Janquilts said...

All I can say in OMgosh! What a beautiful quilt. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Jan

Susan Briscoe said...

I continue to be fascinated by this patchwork! Hope you don't mind, I borrowed a couple of your photos (with credits & a direct link to your blog) for a little piece I've just written about it on mine. I just didn't take enough photos at the exhibition - wish I had taken a lot more, but it was like being a kid in a candy shop!

Sandra Wyman said...

Found you again, Janet, after meeting you in person on Wednesday! Really enjoying reading your accounts (seems I'm not the only person planning multiple posts)

Carolyn Konig said...

Hello Janet
I have looked further into your blog site and again I love these photo's. I have drafted the circles from this quilt with good intentions of making the quilt using the layout without the appliquéd border. Keep up the great photos to help promote the V & A Museum. I wish that I could be there to view these beautiful quilts.
Kindest regards

Carolyn

Carolyn König
Carolyn's Quilting Room,
85 Brewer Drive
P O Box 753,
Wodonga, Vic 3689
Australia
www.carolynsquiltingroom.com.au
email: carolyn@carolynsquiltingroom.com.au
Phone: +612 6059 1702

Maggey and Jim said...

I totally agree, that was an awesome piece.. Thanks,
Maggey