It’s not often you haphazardly come across a museum dedicated solely to the art of quilting, in fact it’s a downright rarity. But on a recent visit to York, I came across a leaflet for York’s Quilt Museum and Gallery nestled amongst the dozens of various other brochures in our little B&B, and needless to say I was adamant that it was scribbled at the top of the ‘To Do’ list.
Being independently funded meant there was a £6 admission fee (£5 for students) which, compared to other museums and attractions we had been to in the historic city, was fairly cheap. And, unlike a couple of the other museums which I found, for lack of a better word, underwhelming, the Quilt Museum and Gallery was well worth the money and unspurprisingly left me wanting to buy the entire contents of the museum shop!
Situated within a Grade 1 listed former guildhall, the museum is just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the Shambles, the infamous butchers’ street. And if Quilts arn’t your thing, the internal medieval architecture alone is well worth a visit. But of course, my inner homemaker and lover of all things vintage was quite naturally drawn to the quilts themselves.
Celebrations
The largest exhibition showcased was entitled ‘Celebrations’. And what a celebration of quilt making it was! From beautiful, silk quilted wedding gowns to cute patchwork cot quilts, the collection was a quilting heaven. Each work had been handcrafted to mark a significant milestone in life, with some dating back to the mid nineteenth century. The wear and tear of the nineteenth century cot quilts certainly showcased the quilt as a practical, everyday object, while others such as a quilt designed to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, reflected its use as a decorative item.
Made in Yorkshire
Another, much smaller room held the exhibition ‘Made in Yorkshire’, which displayed the work of contemporary, local textile artists. The collection featured some interesting, more modern works in which a range of skills were used from weaving to embroidery and of course, quilting. Although every piece had been evidently crafted with great talent, ‘Italy- A Tale of Three Cities’ by Alison Bramley quite simply stole the show. Each panel is jam-packed full of recognisable landmarks and bold colours reflecting the vivacious nature of the cities. It was inspired by Alison’s own travels to Italy and was made especially for the theme ‘traces of travel brought home’ for the Great Northern Quilt Show.
Whether you’ve already mastered the technique of quilting or you’ve only ever admired them for their craftsmanship, York’s Quilt Museum and Gallery is well worth a visit. There’s an area for children to get creative and a short video for visitors to watch explaining different aspects of quilting and information about the museum itself. There’s no doubt you’ll leave feeling inspired and ready to hit the sewing machine in no time!
The exhibitions Celebrations and Made in Yorkshire close on 29th August 2011
Rosie Webber - I am 18 years old and in September will be studying Journalism at the University of Gloucestershire in the UK. I love to write about ...
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