Many of the
quilts in the collection are glazed wool quilts. In the past, some of
these had mistakenly been identified as linsey-woolsey, a mix of linen and
wool, but were found to be all wool by the experts who documented
them. Visitors have often asked how the glazing was done. There was
available a commercially glazed worsted called 'calimanco' that was
used in the 18th century for petticoats & also for quilts. This fabric was
made either by passing the fabric between rollers & applying heat &
pressure, by rubbing it with a soft stone, or by rubbing it with gum
Arabic or another soft resinous substance. It seems likely that the cloth
for the quilts was of this kind rather than a finish being applied by the
quilter.
As you browse through the collection, note
how many of the quilting patterns included stylized feathers. |
