Collection: Quilters’ Guild Museum Collection

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The Quilters’ Guild was established in 1979 as a national organisation representing quilt-makers throughout the country. The Guild aims to give quilt-making the status it deserves as both a craft and an art, and to encourage and maintain a high standard of workmanship and design. Its focus on encouraging contemporary practise is vital in keeping historic skills alive, and ensuring the continuation of a traditional craft which continues to evolve and remain relevant to a changing contemporary society. This is reflected within its Collection.

  Since The Guild’s inception it began to form a collection of patchwork and quilted works as an educational resource to inspire and inform its members. The first acquisitions included a House Block quilt, made in 1978 by founder members of The Guild; two Wholecloth Quilts made for Claridges Hotel, London as part of their renovated Art Deco Wing in the 1930s; and samples and small pieces made by or owned by Averil Colby (see influential figures in the history of the Collection below). As the organisation grew, so did the collection, and the importance of collecting a broad range of patchwork and quilted textiles to represent the types and styles produced over the last three centuries became apparent. As an historically (and predominantly) female craft, patchwork and quilting and its history and development is an important part of British social and domestic history, and it was not comprehensively collected within other public collections.

  Influential figures within the history of patchwork and quilting have led to important donations. Averil Colby was a patchwork and quilting historian, writer and teacher, and her manuscripts and notes for her books form an important resource in our archives collection. She was also an avid collector of historic fabrics, and her extensive collection, which dates back to the 18th century, forms the core basis of our fabric collection. Barbara Bailey was a founder member of The Quilters’ Guild and a prolific practitioner and teacher. The Collection has 36 pieces made by her dating from the 1970s – 80s, including teaching samples and miniature quilts. In 2002, 21 quilts were left in a significant bequest from Angela Brocklebank, an active member of The Guild as well as a teacher and collector. In 1993, The Guild were bequeathed a number of samples, small domestic objects and tools from the estate of Amy Emms, an influential wholecloth practitioner and teacher. These pieces are further supported by several additional donations of quilts made by Amy Emms.

  There are several key acquisitions that stand out as being particularly rare, iconic and important, both in our historic and contemporary holdings. Arguably the most important is the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet. This piece, bought at auction in 2000, is the oldest known dated patchwork coverlet surviving in the U.K. Its unique design and complex construction, coupled with its very early 18th century date of creation make it a vital piece of historical evidence that resonates within an international context. Other significant historic pieces include a small collection of early 19th century printed cotton pieced patchworks, demonstrating exquisite workmanship and an encyclopaedia of printed cotton designs. A pair of mid-nineteenth century coverlets made by or for sisters of the same family, known as the Bloomfield and Wyatt Coverlets, were purchased separately in 2003-4 but contain a very unusual design incorporating embroidered religious verses and even some identical fabrics. An interesting piece for the last quarter of the century features an art nouveau inspired design in applique and couching made by a member of the Ladies Work Society, and is unusual in both design and maker. Contemporary makers are also represented, and show a great variety in pioneering techniques and styles. A large piece, Pink Boat by Jo Budd demonstrates the art quilter’s more abstract source of inspiration and uses a rust dyeing technique. A studio piece by the internationally sought after quilt artist Pauline Burbidge, Honesty Skyline, brings our collection firmly into the 21st century.

  As the collection has grown and evolved, it has become important to maintain a strong sense of focus for the collection. We continue to collect items from any period, but aim towards representing the variety and breadth of quilts created. This can be challenging, as most pieces demonstrate individual artistic flair and personal variety. The need to collect items that reflect the work of community groups, and works created for social and political purposes has also been recognised as an emerging area for collection. There is also an increasing awareness to represent and reflect diversity within our Collection, in all its forms.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2021

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The Quilters’ Guild Collection totals over 850 quilts and related items from the British Isles. It comprises of a comprehensive range of patchwork, quilted and applique pieces, exploring the breadth of those allied crafts throughout the history of their creation. Its significance lies in capturing that full range, representing works across the social spectrum to demonstrate different types, styles, fabrics and makers.

  The existing collection consists of:

  • Quilts, coverlets and tops
  • Clothing
  • Domestic items
  • Tools and equipment
  • Patterns and templates
  • Archives relating to the Collections
  • Objects relating to the organisation’s history and key people within it
  • Fabric samples
  • Library – reference collection of current, and out of print texts relating to the history and techniques of patchwork, quilting and applique.
  • Archive relating to the history of The Guild as an organisation
  • Oral history Project ‘Talking Quilts’ (which includes transcripts and digital recorded files)

  The Collecting Policy for the Library and Archive material are appended to the back of this document.

  In addition to the accessioned Collection, we hold an education collection which is frequently used for the purposes of outreach in the form of travelling trunks. These are hired by groups, and represent a snapshot of the history of patchwork and quilting. Each trunk has themed interpretation to help direct the user experience. The quilts in these trunks, (which are also used for the purposes of talks, lectures and displays where conditions are not appropriate for the accessioned collection), are all duplicates of items currently in the main collection.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2021

  Licence: CC BY-NC