This summer I have visited two exhibitions of quilts, one at Newton on Ouse and the other at Gainford. Both were stunning. At Newton on Ouse the parish church was stuffed full of quilts old and new. They were draped over every pew, which must have been very cosy for morning service. The variety was amazing, the techniques, colours, designs, and represented thousands of hours of work. I am in a little sewing group and we had some quilts draped over the pews above. This led me to think of all the work involved, and how over time dedicated needlewomen (and some needlemen) have provided everything required for their home and family, but after a while it is lost, used for dusters, succumbed to moths and time. Fascinated by any references to such needlewomen here are a few tantalizing snippets. Celia Fiennes [1662 - 1741] famous for her travels throughout the country on horseback, was a rich lady. She never married, and her will left a large amount of jewellery, and also some textiles - To my neice Jane King besides the large pearl necklace I gave her at her marriage and stich pillows and quilt I give her my father’s picture set in gold in miniature - a mention of some stitched pillows and a quilt - I hope Celia made these herself. Also - to my Doctor Justinian Morse my seatee of Irish Stich and my single large silver plaite in gratitude to their great care. I give my own servant that attends me at my death all my clothes - Dr Morse got a settee of Irish Stitch. I wondered what Irish Stitch is, and it is another term for Florentine work or Flame embroidery. Here is one I made earlier, 1978 in fact. Husband made the piano stool and I made the top. The standard of quilt making in the exhibition at Gainford was particularly high, see the photograph above. Some superb designs and sewing. Traditionally patchwork quilts were made up of left over scraps, whole-cloth quilts (associated with Durham and the North East) were made out of pieces of cloth bought for the purpose. Above is one of the many photographs I took at Gainford. I do try and use left-over scraps for my quilts and do cut up old clothes (particularly husband's raggy shirts) but sometimes you just need a particular colour and have to make a specific purchase. Wills sometimes give intriguing glimpses into houses as well as the lives of the testator and his or her family. Mary Fossick, who made a will in 1776, was originally from Yorkshire but lived down south - I also give to her the said Mary Carter all my household goods and Furniture in the front dining room of my dwelling house in Bishopsgate Street London And my Crimson Silk Bed and everything belonging thereto And my Harpsichord in my house at Chigwell Row in Essex and also my Gold Watch and all my Buckles Diamond Rings and trinketts that I may die posessed of ..... So imagine Mary's harpsichord in her house at Chigwell Row and her crimson bed .... Beds, bedding and bed hangings were often bequeathed and were therefore something of value. Mary Seavers of Thirsk made a will in 1780 and had a variety of personal possessions to leave to her family - I give and bequeath to my grandson Richard all that my bed and bedding bedstead with checked hangings - she also specified various pieces of furniture, silver spoons and a tankard and her wearing apparel and linen. Ann Johnson of Barningham left the beds and bedding used by each of her children specifically to them - I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Johnson £30 and also my Mahogany Table Glass and Pictures in the Parlour of my said house at Greenbrough aforesaid eight Mahogany Chairs the bed and beddings usually used by her together with my best set of China and all and singular my plate and linen (except as herinafter mentioned) ..... I give and bequeath to my son Edward Johnson £30 together with the bed and bedding used by him Also my leather bottomed chairs and a Mahogany Table. And I give my son William Johnson the bed and bedding usually used by him. Three Ladies Sewing by George Dance the younger [1741 - 1825] at Eton College and on the ArtUk website. Mary Metcalf of Masham made a will in 1704 in which she left - I also give to my Cozen Mary Beckwith one Silver Salver of 5 Guineas value in which my name shall by ciphered. She shall have my best Sute of Cloaths throughout all from head to foote. Her sisters got all the rest of her clothes divided between them. This picture is called Portrait of a couple said to be John Tradescant the elder and his wife Elizabeth Day at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford and on the ArtUke website, I have used this to illustrated what they wore on their heads because in the will of Ellen Lobley of 1635 she mentioned many things, her cows and calves, pewter, money and bacon .... To Isabel Atkinson a stirke att May day, one Caull, one Pewther dish, three Cheese presses one Bacon flicke on paire of sheetes and a Pettecote To Elizabeth Geldart one Pettycote and a hatt To the above named Dorothie Fosse her best gowne & her best hatt Dorothie's daughter had already got a cow. An inventory was made after Ellen died and the lists included three pairs of sheets, a mattress, two coverlets, a bolster, three blankets and a pillow; ten shillings worth of bacon and six shillings and seven pence worth of flax and yarn. Ellen doubtless made everything herself. It is quite hard to find pictures of ordinary people in ordinary houses, portraits of this period were of the great and good with lace and ruffs, not plain clothes. This picture is called Interior of a room with Figures, a man playing a lute and a woman, by Adrien Brouwer [1605 - 1638] and is at the V & A. Another testator who mentioned clothes was Alyce Croft of East Witton in 1620. The spelling is difficult, so in our spelling she left - I give to Alice Croft daughter of Rauf my best green gown and my petticoat of flannel ... I do give to Elizabeth Croft daughter of John a felt hat lined with velvet. I give unto Alice Thwaite another felt hat ... I do give to my son Thomas Croft a pair of bed stocks and the feather bed, a couple of blankets, a single covering, a single happin and a pair of linen sheets and a throwne chair ... I give Isabel Thwaite the honey chest and my best red petticoat of flannel... and all this intermingles with her pans and kettles, tups and gimmers. Her nephews got the hives of bees. Moving forward in time, the will of Elizabeth Natriss of Askrigg in 1843 mentioned - to my nephew George Natriss the son of my brother John Natriss I give my gold hunting watch and also my largest round pattern table cloth. All these give tiny glimpses into the homes and wardrobes of women in times past, who plied their needles to make and embroider tablecloths, cushions, petticoats and gowns, bed spreads and curtains. My current pile of sewing and knitting is on a chair just out of shot! I will leave the last words to Hannah Gill, she must have had an amazing wardrobe and really cut a dash. Barden is a very tiny place, with far more cows than people, and I am trying to imagine Hannah in all her finery amongst them all. She made her will in 1827. This is the Last Will and Testament of me Hannah Gill late of Poland Street in the City of London but now residing at Barden in the parish Hauxwell in the County of York, Spinster ..... unto my sister in law Mary Gill the wife of my brother George Gill of Barden the bed on which I now lie together with the bedstead, bedding and other things appertaining , also one pair of sheets, four napkins, three table cloths, a set of china, glass decanters ... my red and white shawl, my best tea caddy .... to my niece Hannah daughter of my brother Thomas Gill .... my red and white cotton bed quilt, one pair of sheets, one pair of white stays and also my Leghorn bonnet, stuff gown, green silk shawl and a tea pot ... to my niece Elizabeth, daughter of George Gill, now in London, my best Gros de Naples gown and a black veil ... neice Mary daughter of my brother George my scarlet silk shawl... Lydia daughter of my brother George my Shambro gown ... my sister Lydia Lye wife of Edward Lye of no. 2 Rupert Street, London ... my best Noneith crape gown, my brown silk pelisoe, my best damask table cloth three and a half yards long marked with my initials, one pair of sheets .... my niece Elizabeth daughter of my brother William Gill my best cloth pelisoe, my puce silk gown trimmed with buttons ... my niece Lydia daughter of my brother John Gill my white gown and fleeced petticoat ... to Mary wife of my brother John my black Bombazine gown and petticoat .... she then bequeathed them all money. This is a photograph of a quilt that was on display some years back at the Hawes Museum, called the Kilburn Quilt, I think after the local family called Kilburn. Was Hannah's red and white cotton bed quilt similar? So who will I leave my quilts to? Will they want them? Should I sort it out with my daughters now!? But I salute all those dedicated women who stitched and stitched to provide for their homes and families. Gainford exhibition.
These women, and all who have gone before them, have skills that make them "More precious than jewels" ... Proverbs chapter 31 - A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels ... she puts her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle, she opens her hands to the poor and reaches out to the hands of the needy. She is not afraid for her household when it snows for all her household are clothed in crimson .... she makes herself coverings [i.e. quilts!] ... she makes linen garments and sells them ... she looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.. So I had better get on and do some chores .....
0 Comments
|
AuthorThis is where you can share creativity with me. I believe that everyone has something creative within them, and it is a joy to find ways of being creative. Blogging is NEW to me, so here goes ..... Archives
January 2024
Categories |