The word quilt has its
roots in Latin. The Latin word, ‘culcita’ refers to a
padded and tied mattress which was something like a
Japanese futon bed. This word was the source from which
the word quilt originated.
Quilting, it is therefore clear, was an ancient art and
different cultures employed different techniques for the
manufacture of quilts which resulted in the large
variety of antiques that we find today. Some of the
kinds of antique quilts for sale these days include,
antique appliqué quilts, antique Hawaiian quilts and
antique dolls quilts.
Quilting basically refers to a form of needlework
technique which involves joining two or more fabrics in
a decorative pattern. Since quilts came into being to
cater to the need to stay warm, quilts usually have a
layer of foam or other padding between the layers of
fabric that are stitched together. This may occasionally
make the process of cleaning antique quilts a little
complicated but the end result is almost always worth
the effort.
Aging antique quilts from Asia can be traced as far back
as to the first century. The main motifs and central
themes of the designs on these quilts include animal
motifs and various abstract designs. The background of
Indian quilts is usually quilted in diamond shaped using
a rough running-stitch. Quilting afforded Asians a way
to stay warm without having to wear bulky clothing and
quickly became a method employed in the manufacture of
coats and other garments that offered protection from
cold..
IMPORTANT NOTE: Items over hundred years are not permitted to be taken out of India without the permission of the Director General, The Archaeological survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi - 110 011.