85/23

Emily Alice Brown (Maker)

This quilt is made of irregular pieces of material, mainly velvet, of strong, dark colours. Each piece has been hand stitched down in cross stitch of yellow or white thread. It is padded and lined with a piece of printed material. It was made by the donor's grandmother, Mrs Emily Alice Brown, whose maiden name was Ford. She was the sister of George Ford who founded a business at Hurst, Berkshire. She probably made the quilt in the 1880s-1890s. Mrs Brown often wore velvet and the pieces of velvet used to make the quilt came from pieces left over from dressmaking. She died in 1940. The quilt was used regularly by the family.

1 quilt: fabric (mostly velvet); good condition.

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: BEDCOVER, patchwork // Accession number: 85/23 // Classification: DOMESTIC Furnishing textile // Negative number: // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: Mrs M. J. Clemas, c/o Croton House, Tintern, Gwent March 1985 // Store: small object // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB 9.5.85 // Description: This quilt is made of irregular pieces of material, mainly velvet, of strong dark colours. Each piece has been hand stitched down in cross stitch of yellow or white thread. // It is padded and lined with a piece of printed material. // Dimensions: Width: 128.0cms. Length: 141.0cms. // Associated information: This quilt was made by Mrs Clemas' grandmother, (d. 1940) Mrs Emily Alice Brown (nee Ford, the sister of George Ford who founded a business at Hurst). It was probably made in the 1880s-1890s. The pieces of velvet came from pieces left over from dressmaking - Mrs Brown wore velvet a good deal. // Used regularly by the family. // References:', MERL miscellaneous note – 'From: Mrs M. J. Clemas c/o Croton Hous, Tintern, Gwent. // Two patchwork quilts: // 1. Cotton. // Made by Mrs Clemas's mother, the late Mrs Mabel Hunt (nee Brown) in the 1920's and later repaired. // 2. Velvet: Made by grandmother of Mrs Clemas, Mrs Emily Alice Brown (nee Ford, the sister of George Ford who founded a business at Hurst). Thought to have been made in the 1880s or 1890s. Mrs Brown was accustomed to wearing velvet and quilt was made of irregular offcuts.', Letter, Mrs Margaret J. Clemas to MERL, 9 January 1985 – 'Dear Sir, // I am presently engaged in disposing of some of the personal effects of my mother who died recently at the age of 87. // Among them are two patchwork quilts, one of which was started by my grandmother who died in 1940. These have been mended from time to time by the family and were kept as utilitarian items rather than ornaments. // It occurred to me that these represent examples of what was found in rural cottages, and that as such you might be interested in accepting these quilts as a gift. // Perhaps you would let me know if you would like them sent or delivered to you. // Yours sincerely, // Margaret J. Clemas (Mrs).', Letter, MERL to Mrs Margaret J. Clemas, 11 January 1985 – 'Dear Mrs Clemas, // Thank you for your letter. We would be pleased to accept the two patchwork quilts into the collections. If you can send or deliver them to us, this would be most welcome. It would be helpful if you could write down all the details that you know of the past history of these items. // Yours sincerely, // Roy D Brigden // Keeper, Museum of English Rural Life // [insert] Is 'Croton House, Tintern, Gwent' the mother's address ie. Mrs Mabel Hunt? [ end insert]'

Stitched, Patchwork, Quilted