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White Marcella cotton woven pocket with central vertical opening and cotton tying tapes still attached. The pocket has a floral scrolling design that has been woven to the pocket shape, and it has been assembled by hand.
Marcella, as a woven imitation to hand quilting, was popular in the late 18th century, and had the added advantage of being sturdy and washable. In the 1840s, the newly improved steam powered looms in Bolton, Lancashire, created woven designs specifically to the pocket shape (like this one). These were both modern �“ as they were clean, white and washable, but also nostalgic as they imitated the type of older embroidered and quilted pockets popular in the previous century.
The Quilters' Guild Collection is held by The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles.
Registered charity no 1067361 Company limited by guarantee registration no 34476331 Charity in Scotland no. SC043174.
© 2024 Quilt Museum and Gallery, York | Printed from: quiltmuseum.org.uk/collections/heritage/all/1830-1870/marcella-woven-pocket.html