Quilts 1700-2010. Victoria & Albert Museum

Now closed, this was the surprise hit of the V & A’s spring season. It must be the revival of interest in making and re-use to produce something both functional and unique that brought in the crowds.

We are used to seeing American quilts but these European ones opened up a whole new discourse. The selection of old and new quilts included the themes of imperialism, travel, temperance, incarceration, industrial prowess, penury, childbirth, illness and death, just to mention a few. The colours, designs and techniques were inspirational for any bedding designer – enough to keep one going for several seasons.

The time taken to create some of these quilts is mind-boggling: one is documented as having taken 10 years of “spare ” time. Having spent a little time making in a group context I can better understand the benefit as well as the pleasure of such a collective activity. For one thing it speeds the process along and is very companiable. I have increased respect for quilt makers, particularly the solo workers – too few of us have either the time or the inclination to see such a long term project through to the end. We may start with a baby quilt or cushion cover but, let’s face it, we all dream of the double bed size. 

The quilts we see in our shops are now commercially made in India and South-East Asia where labour costs are still a fraction of ours here in the West. In my opinion the best are still from India although I have images of  some very nice ones in Vietnam, particularly for colour. Anyway, before I digress, here is another image from the exhibition.