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This beautiful hand-quilted dressing gown was made by Sarah Marion Davies (nee Smith), known as Marion. She trained as a hand quilter with the Rural Industries Bureau in the small village of Abertridwr in the South Wales valleys. The RIB set up the quilting classes as part of their initiative to encourage traditional crafts, and provide work in areas of deprivation during the late 1920s/early 1930s.
Front of dressing gown
Typical pairs of Welsh spirals run up the centre fronts, and can also be found around the hem, and at the end of the sleeves.
The rest of the body is filled with square diamonds.
Back of dressing gown
A panel up the back of the dressing gown has an undulating vine, with flowers and spirals. More spirals spread up from the hem in a pleasing organic arrangement.
Close-up of spirals
The spiral is perhaps the most iconic Welsh quilting motif.
The dressing gown is made from red cotton poplin, with a grey lining. The wadding is lambswool.
Quilted dressing gowns were one of the advertised products offered by the Rural Industries Bureau made to order.
Another beautiful Welsh one in gold satin made by Irene Morgan can be found in the Quilt Collection and a North Country one made by Edith Wilkinson can also be seen here in the BQSG Gallery.
Quilt Studies Issue 27
More about Marion and the other Abertridwr quilters can be found in a paper written by her granddaughter, Katherine Gough, in Quilt Studies Issue 27.
You can see more details of how to purchase Quilt Studies on our Publications page
