Researchers such as Averil Colby of Great Britain, author of two quilt history books in my personal library, one of them called, Patchwork Quilts, sought examples of early European patchwork, checking literature for any possible quilt references. French scholar, Janine Janniere, analyzed a French poem associated with a “needlework masterpiece,” and the memoirs of the man responsible for hanging his textile in the city of Metz. In a 1994 academic paper that she prepared for The Quilt Journal, published by The Kentucky Quilt Project in 1994, Janniere made this statement:
“Intrigued by this first French reference and hoping the rest of the text might give us some clues to the context of French patchwork of that time, I decided to study the poem. Should it be considered a reference to French patchwork bedcovers? This is not really what resulted from my research.” (The bold letters are my emphasis).
Her six page paper that includes the poem, in French, is available to read on The Quilt Index.
In considering topics of history or quilt history, it is always best to keep our minds open and to avoid being didactic. Inevitably, there will be exceptions to any generalization. Each anomaly must be considered as a separate event, as Ms. Janniere has so successfully done. The article is riveting and adds another manner of looking for proof of early French patchwork quilts.
Perhaps, future quilt historians will try to determine which quilt styles were popular, in the late 20th century, by comparing those quilts that are constantly draped on beds or chairs, in movies. It is an artificial way to consider the topic, but it is at the very least “one way.” In the absence of other information, such a study could add at least “some” information.
As the academic community places more of their extant ephemera and photos of quilts, online, there will be greater potential for understanding of quilts and their historical connections by the general public and all interested parties.
Many thanks to the Quilt Index for making this piece of ephemera available on its website, and many thanks to The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc. for their quality publications that are still “giving” today. I found the link on Lisa Evan’s yahoo group for the study of medieval quilting. Thanks, Lisa.
Patricia Cummings
See my latest article in The Quilter magazine, March 2010 issue: “Feedsack Treasures”
Quilter’s Muse Publications
