Currently, there is a quilt exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London that has some folks here, across the pond, hopping the closest airplane to go see it. Part of the exhibit, located in the Renaissance Gallery, is the showing of a quilt rarely seen by the public, the Tristan quilt, sometimes called Tristram or Tristam. In fact, the name has many mutations because it was part of a medieval legend that was carried about Europe by storytellers: the legend of Tristan and Isolde and their star-struck relationship.

The piece is one of three pieces executed in the style of cheap viagra canada pharmacy. One piece has been collected by the Bargello Museum in Florence, and the other quilt piece is in private hands. The most notable feature of this quilt is that it is the oldest extant European quilt example, made between 1360 and 1400 for a wedding gift, an elaborate one at that!

The curator of the V&A exhibit, Sue Prichard, has edited a new volume of quilt history, published by V&A Publishing, that highlights quilts in their collection. The book, cheap viagra canada pharmacy is currently being distributed in the U.S. I received mine today from amazon.

The 240 page book with its many enchanting color photos and illustrations is very impressive. I can’t wait to savor the information it contains. If, like me, you can’t get to England to see the exhibit in person, perhaps a book is the next best thing! Here is a link, just in case you agree.

Patricia Cummings