An exclusive Chinese silk from Erddig Hall 18th Century rare bed cover saved from ruin.
The National Trust records of repairs reveal a ‘make do and mend’ approach to a rare 18th-century bed cover which was saved from ruin after the first World War.
The bed cover, made from Chinese silk and embroidered with peacocks and flowers, was commissioned in 1720 for the room used to accommodate the family’s most distinguished guests.
A rare cover from a 300-year-old bed has finally gone on public display at National Trust Cymru’s Erddig Hall and Garden in Wrexham.
18th Century rare bed cover saved from ruin
Chinese silk from Erddig Hall, near Wrexham was saved from ruin after first world war by mistress of house. A 300-year-old bed cover, made from Chinese silk and embroidered with peacocks and flowers, was saved from ruin in the years after the first world war when the owners of country house estates in the UK found themselves short of cash and servants.
The rare and fragile early 18th-century coverlet was created to grace the best bed chamber in Erddig Hall, near Wrexham. Now, almost 700 hours of painstaking conservation work by the National Trust has revealed an unexpected history.
Chinese silk from Erddig Hall
The rare bed cover has gone on display at Erddig Hall following conservation and research which has revealed previously unknown details about its history, make-up and the wartime needlework that helped the 18th Century rare bed cover saved from ruin.
After almost 700 hours ( almost a full month of continuous work) of conservation work at the National Trust Textile Conservation Studio in Norfolk has revealed the treasured bed cover is actually made up of textiles and embroidery techniques from around the world, including Welsh and other British fabrics.
The Chinese embroidered bed cover and matching curtains were commissioned for Erddig in 1720 by then owner John Meller. As part of his vision for the property’s Best Bed in the Best Bed Chamber.
The room was used to accommodate the family’s most distinguished guests. It became known as the State Bed and State Bedroom in the 19th century.
Visitors can now admire the Victorian parterre in the Grade-I listed garden where the summer planting scheme has been inspired by the coverlet. The Salvia farinacea picks up the blue threads, while the white begonias and silvery cineraria reflect the white tones of the bed cover itself.
The bed cover will be on display in Erddig’s Print Room, from 4 September. Visit the Erddig website for more details.