Since its
formation in 1979, The Quilters' Guild has built up a unique collection of antique
and contemporary quilts from around the British Isles. The collection
has grown due to both donations and acquisitions and now numbers over 600 items, from the earliest known dated British patchwork to recent
pieces by contemporary quilt makers. As well as full size quilts and
coverlets, the collection includes miniature pieces, quilted clothing
and small domestic items along with templates, tools and quilting
equipment. There is also an archive fabric collection, which is an
invaluable resource for fabric and quilt researchers and historians.
The Quilt Museum and Gallery is the new permanent home for the collection, ensuring both Guild members and the public have the opportunity
to view items from the collection, on either a group visit or as an
individual for detailed personal study.
The Curator oversees all aspects of the collection and
works with the Director and Collections Management Committee to monitor the care and
content of the collection and to arrange exhibitions and loans to other
museums. A small and dedicated team of volunteers work
under the curator’s guidance doing necessary repairs, checking items
and preparing pieces for exhibition.
Bringing the collection up to the present date are two commissioned
collections: the 90s Collection, and 25 for 25. The 90s Collection
comprises 51 small 24" square wall hangings that were commissioned
by the Guild regions, individual quilt groups and the heritage committee
throughout the 1990s in what aimed to be a unique snapshot of
contemporary British quiltmaking at the end of the twentieth century. Following on from this,
to celebrate The Guild's 25th Anniversary in 2004, the Heritage
Committee decided to commission a new set of 25 quilts to mark this
milestone. This collection presents the work of innovative well-known
quiltmakers who were not previously represented within the collection.
Of the 25 quilts, 22 were commissioned by the regions, and two by the
Heritage acquisitions committee. The 25th quilt was the winner of the
25th Anniversary open competition at Festival of Quilts in 2004.
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 The 1718 coverlet was bought by The Quilters’ Guild at auction in
September 2000. Until that time it had been in the possession of the
Brown family of Aldbourne, Wiltshire, for many years. The coverlet is an outstanding historical piece, and the worked date
of 1718 identifies it as one of the earliest known dated patchworks.
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Read more...
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We will be adding articles on pieces in the 25 for 25 collection in the future. Please check back for updates. |
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We will be adding articles on pieces in the 90s collection in the future. Please check back for updates. |
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