A remarkable fragment taken from a very old French quilt, preserved exactly for the layers, repairs and traces of fabric that have survived within it.

Dating from the 19th century, this piece measures approximately 47 x 42 cm and reveals something of the extraordinary construction of the original quilt.

One side is predominantly covered in a tiny faded purple printed cotton, densely hand quilted in rows. Small pieces of fine purple striped cotton have been stitched over areas of wear, including one wonderfully simple narrow repair secured with visible hand stitches.

Elsewhere the textile has worn almost completely through, exposing the soft natural wadding beneath. Turn the piece over and another history appears, with heavily fragmented tan fabric, exposed wadding and small surviving scraps of an earlier floral cotton in faded pink, green and plum.

Rather than being a pristine piece of antique textile, this is very much an archaeological fragment of cloth, showing years of use, repair and reuse. Loose threads, holes, worn areas, exposed filling, old stitching, patches and fragmented fabric are all part of the piece.

Beautiful simply displayed as it is, or particularly interesting for textile collectors, artists, slow-stitchers and anyone studying historic construction and repair.

Approximate size: 47 x 42 cm

Condition: Extremely worn and fragile, intentionally offered in its surviving state. There are numerous holes, losses, loose fibres and threads, exposed wadding, fragmented fabrics, old repairs and areas where the original textiles have almost entirely disappeared. Please study the photographs carefully. This is best considered a collectible textile fragment rather than fabric for conventional sewing.

One of a small number of individual fragments saved from the same antique French quilt.