Quilts like jewels

By Anna Mortimer

You may wonder how a visit to ‘Quilts 1700 -2010: Hidden Histories, Untold Stories’ currently showing at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London could possibly resonate with the ‘Pure White’ jewellery trends of today.

The show is a wondrous array of quilts; each one a masterpiece of design and colour; intricate patterns of fabric, stitch and print; many done by groups of women working together to tell their stories. Amongst the brightly coloured wall hangings and bed covers there were a number of stunning white pieces. The motifs of feathers, shells and whirls on these monochrome backgrounds allowed the delicate stitching to act like exquisite jewellery, showing off a simple summer dress. Tucked away in one of the display cabinets, was a captivating group of white gems… four little pincushions! Each one frilled, tasselled, beaded and embroidered in either white or gold. The modesty of these little works of art was a great reminder that it is so often the subtle touch that catches the eye.

Visit the show if you can: I can assure you that you will be as charmed and inspired as I was.