A beautifully timeworn fragment from an antique French quilt, revealing layers of hand stitching, old repairs and fabrics that have survived hidden within the original textile.

Measuring approximately 48 x 40 cm, this piece has a particularly lovely expanse of tiny purple printed cotton, densely worked with rows of hand quilting. A large piece of fine purple and cream striped cotton has been stitched over one section as an old repair, its hand sewn edges and construction still clearly visible.

The opposite side tells a very different story. Here the earlier tan textile has worn extensively, exposing masses of soft natural wadding beneath. Tiny remnants of other fabrics remain caught amongst the layers, including wonderful flashes of a deep red and cream printed cotton.

The result is almost an archaeological textile, a record of a quilt repeatedly used, worn, repaired and preserved over generations.

This is not pristine antique fabric. Its beauty lies entirely in its deterioration: worn cloth, exposed filling, old stitches, patches, loose threads, holes and fragments of earlier textiles.

A fascinating piece for a textile collection, framed display, textile study, photography or as inspiration for artists and slow-stitchers.

Approximate size: 48 x 40 cm

Condition: Heavily worn and fragile. There are numerous holes, losses, loose threads and fibres, exposed wadding and areas where the original textile has almost completely disappeared. All of this is part of the historic character of the piece. Please study the photographs carefully.

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