This site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using this site you agree to receiving cookies under our Cookie Policy.
Locations +
Amgueddfa Cymru
Cymraeg
My account
Collections & Research
Departments Collections Online National Collections Centre

Amgueddfa
Cymru
Family

National Museum Cardiff

St Fagans National Museum of History

National Waterfront Museum

Big Pit National Coal Museum

National Slate Museum

National Wool Museum

National Roman Legion Museum

  • Collections & Research
  • Departments
  • Collections Online
  • National Collections Centre
  • Articles
  • Ancient Wales
  • Art
  • Celf ar y Cyd
  • History
  • Natural History
  • The Museum at Work
  • Health, Wellbeing and Amgueddfa Cymru

Collections Online

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Advanced Search

Advanced Search

Image filter options
Back to search results

Bed jacket

Morgan, Irene (née Davies) (Irene Morgan, 1905-2005. Born into a Welsh-speaking mining family in Aberdare, she was the youngest of seven children. In about 1928, she learnt to quilt at Aberdare Technical College in class established by the Rural Industries Bureau. In 1936, she married and moved with her husband to Porthcawl where they ran a guesthouse. The middle room of the her home was used as a dining-room for guests in the summer, but in the winter it was converted into a space for quilting. As well as running the guesthouse, she also taught quilting nightclasses in the Bridgend area, until the onset of glaucoma prevented her from stitching in the 1960s.)

Short quilted bed jacket made and designed by Irene Morgan (nee Davies) of Porthcawl (originally from Aberdare), 1948 . Made from a pale dull pink floral brocaded synthetic fabric, with plain apricot fabric lining. Entirely hand stitched seams. Long wide sleeves. Collar turned back to show lining. Two button fastening (self fabric covered buttons and two made loops). Main body (back, front sides and sleeves) quilted in shell pattern with border of small leaves and outer border of trellis all around front edges, hem and sleeve edges. Possibly relating to a prize certificate awarded to Irene Morgan at the National Eisteddfod, 1948.

Irene Morgan (nee Davies) was taught to quilt at Aberdare Technical College in 1928. The class she attended was organised by the Rural Industries Bureau. The RIB established quilting classes in economically deprived areas of South Wales with the intention of providing employment for young women. The Bureau provided the women with materials, tuition and a market for their products. They made quilts and quilted garments for the middle-class professionals of Cardiff and for exclusive shops in London. They even sold their wares to Claridge’s Hotel and members of the Royal Family.

Collection Area

Social & Cultural History

Item Number

F02.20.1

Historical Associations

Association Type:
Date: 1948

Creation/Production

Morgan, Irene (née Davies)

Acquisition

Donation

Measurements

Height (mm): 480
Width (mm): 500

Techniques

hand sewn
quilting

Material

synthetic (fabric)
wool (hair)

Location

In store
Comments are currently unavailable. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Related Items

Social & Cultural History

Quilting account & pattern book

Morgan, Irene (née Davies)
F02.20.3
More information
Social & Cultural History

Quilting account book

Morgan, Irene (née Davies)
F02.20.5
More information
Social & Cultural History

Quilting pattern book

Morgan, Irene (née Davies)
F02.20.2
More information
Social & Cultural History

List of quilting prizes

Morgan, Irene (née Davies)
F02.20.24
More information

Site Map

Amgueddfa Cymru

Amgueddfa Cymru

  • Visiting
  • Collections & Research
  • Learn
  • Blog
  • Support Us
  • Shop
  • Venue Hire

Our Museums

  • National Museum Cardiff
  • St Fagans National Museum of History
  • National Waterfront Museum
  • Big Pit National Coal Museum
  • National Slate Museum
  • National Wool Museum
  • National Roman Legion Museum

Connect With Us

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Join the Mailing List
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Corporate

  • About Us
  • Jobs
  • Press Office
  • Picture Library
  • National Collections Centre
  • Working with Others
  • Accessibility statement
  • Cookies Policy
  • Copyright
Sponsored by Welsh Government
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Charity No. 525774
× ❮ ❯