British Quilt Study Group - Gallery

43in (109cm) x 34in (86cm)

Private Collection

This is a typical Victorian piece made of silks, satins, velvets and a silk ribbon for the inner border. Included is plenty of embroidery, small applique flowers and sections of beadwork.

Fortunately the provenance of the quilt has been established and an added bonus of an image of the maker.

This item (probably made as a table cover) was bought in 2014 from Mealy's auctions in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. The catalogue description was "A rare Irish patchwork quilt by Mrs R Ruttle beautifully worked with colourful sections of plain and patterned materials, some with hand worked flowers and other devices on geometric patterns and with 4 silk tassels, 43in (109cm)h x 34in (86cm); together with a Portrait Print of Mrs R. Ruttle. Mrs R. Ruttle (nee Cook) was born at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, her father Robert Cook being one of the captains of the establishment from 1830 to 1850. She married Dr. Robert Ruttle, son of a Dublin barrister and they moved to England. The quilt was made there and given to her daughter Mary Isabella. She became a missionary but retired to Ireland and died in 1968 in her 90th year at Mageough Home, Rathmines."