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Mrs Edgell (Maker)

This white wholecloth quilted bedcover was made in Blaina, Blaenau Gwent. It is a typical traditional Welsh pattern, with motifs including wineglass, wheel, fan, snail and diamonds.

1 bedcover: textile

MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'BEDCOVER (QUILT) // Made by [...] Blaina, Monmoth. // Typical Welsh traditional pattern: wineglass (the border), wheel, fans + snail creeps + diamonds.', Pre-MERL list / description – Rural Industries Bureau // Welsh quilt by ([...] Blaina, Mon.) Typical Welsh pattern - wine glass (the border, wheel, fans, and snail creeps, and diamonds. (From [...] Stroud, Glos.), Pre-MERL label - WELSH QUILT made by [...] Blaina, Mon. send by [...] Stroud, Glos. Redc. 12.5.62 Ackd. 15.5.62, Letter, Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau to MERL, 13 June 1961 – 'This Bureau has a sum of money, the balance of a grant made by the Pilgrim Trust before the war to help the work we were then doing for quilting industry of South Wales and Northern England. Since the war quilting has become almost extinct as an industry and the few quilters who still work for orders have all the work they need. We have therefore been seeking ways of using this balance and the Victoria and Albert Museum has accepted two quilts for their collection. Miss Muriel Rose of the British Council has suggested that you might like to have two quilts - a Welsh and a North Country one. // If so, I should be very glad to get them made for you. I expect you know the work. We did lend two quilts for an exhibition which you held in 1958. I fear that the really traditional quilts may soon be unobtainable because there are so few good quilters still at work and most of them are elderly. If you would like the quilts it would be advisable for us to meet to discuss size, colour, etc. and I could probably come over to Reading, unless you are likely to be coming in this direction.', Letter, MERL to Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau, 15 June 1961 - 'I am most grateful to you for writing about the quilts. We should very much like to acquire two for our collection. [...] [insert] Phoned [...] 31.7.61 Arranged for 2 single bed size quilts. Welsh one in cotton poplin (white). North Country one in natural coloured fine linen. MF [end insert]', Letter, Quilting Consultant, Rural Industries Bureau to MERL, 11 May 1962 – 'I am posting today the quilt which has been made for the Museum by [...] (of [...], Blaina, Mon.). It is a typical Welsh traditional pattern and although [...] has not put in any very close stitching I think she managed to get good contrasts in the pattern by the use of straight lines and curved shapes. I believe she is about the only Welsh quilter of really good standard who is still willing to take orders, so we were really lucky to get this quilt made for you. I first knew her about 1930, when she was by no means young, so I think she must now be about 70.'

Blaina

1962 - 1962

Quilt, Bedcover

Stitched, Patchwork