Axiell Internet Server 6

Sidebar content	Main content
Actions Displays	Details Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Object number CARCM:2009.305 The Depression of the 1930s created high unemployment in South Wales and with so many men out of work, families faced extreme poverty. To help support the families of Gwaelod-y-Garth, Elizabeth Williams organised work on a co-operative basis for the women of her village. Quilted pieces like this cushion cover were made by the women in a workshop which Elizabeth set up in her home. Magi Roberts tells us “My husband’s aunt, Elizabeth Williams (or Modryb Bet as she was known) lived in Bryn Taf, a fairly large house in the village. Modryb Bet wanted to do something to help the village, but at that time it was not seen as appropriate for women to interfere in men’s affairs. She therefore decided to organise work on a co-operative basis for the women of the village. She turned one of her bedrooms into a workshop, paid for someone to teach the women how to quilt in the traditional Welsh style, and paid a local man to make quilting frames. Modryb Bet bought the materials and designed the Celtic patterns and then sold the completed works. David Morgan’s shop in Cardiff held an annual exhibition of work from the depressed areas of South Wales, but Modryb Bet went further than that – to Bond St and Liberty’s in London, where they were paid £20 or £30 for quilted nightgowns – a large sum of money in those days...This cushion remind[s] me of a lady who had a significant if quiet impact on a number of national movements as well as on her own village.” Physical description Purple quilted cushion cover with a criss cross pattern in the centre and a border of circular dotted patterns. Production place Bryntaf, Gwaelod-y-Garth Production period 1930s Object name Cover Material Textile Dimensions Cushion Cover Depth: 19 mm Cushion Cover Diameter: 598 mm Cushion Cover Weight: 1 lb bag Height: 80 mm bag Diameter: 78 mm

Reproduction
Object number

CARCM:2009.305
The Depression of the 1930s created high unemployment in South Wales and with so many men out of work, families faced extreme poverty. To help support the families of Gwaelod-y-Garth, Elizabeth Williams organised work on a co-operative basis for the women of her village. Quilted pieces like this cushion cover were made by the women in a workshop which Elizabeth set up in her home.

Magi Roberts tells us “My husband’s aunt, Elizabeth Williams (or Modryb Bet as she was known) lived in Bryn Taf, a fairly large house in the village. Modryb Bet wanted to do something to help the village, but at that time it was not seen as appropriate for women to interfere in men’s affairs. She therefore decided to organise work on a co-operative basis for the women of the village. She turned one of her bedrooms into a workshop, paid for someone to teach the women how to quilt in the traditional Welsh style, and paid a local man to make quilting frames. Modryb Bet bought the materials and designed the Celtic patterns and then sold the completed works. David Morgan’s shop in Cardiff held an annual exhibition of work from the depressed areas of South Wales, but Modryb Bet went further than that – to Bond St and Liberty’s in London, where they were paid £20 or £30 for quilted nightgowns – a large sum of money in those days...This cushion remind[s] me of a lady who had a significant if quiet impact on a number of national movements as well as on her own village.”
Physical description

Purple quilted cushion cover with a criss cross pattern in the centre and a border of circular dotted patterns.
Production place

Bryntaf, Gwaelod-y-Garth
Production period

1930s
Object name

Cover
Material

Textile
Dimensions

Details