Quilt No.786CN - Charlotte Nattey

760 x 660mm
The quilt was made in London by Miss Mildred Millington in 1966 for the birth of the first child of her niece Charlotte Nattey who still owns it. It is stored for the next generation.
" To tell you of the quilt is to tell you of the person.
My aunt joined the ATS in 1938. She felt war was inevitable and wanted to do something practical. She became an officer in charge of an 'Ack Ack' battery that fired the first shots in the defence of London. In 1944 she was one of a very small detachment of women (all part of the 'Ack Ack') who were stationed in Belgium with the aim of shooting down V1 and V2 bombers. I believe these were the only women on active duty for the allies in Europe.
After the war ended she remained in the army - now the WRAC rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 1956.
She then held a position with the army benevolent fund. This quilt went with her to 'keep her busy' on many postings.
Finally I should tell you that although right handed she had an accident when she was about 10 and had to always use her left hand. She also had poor eyesight due to childhood cataracts so the fact that she always knitted and did tapestries and quilts was quite remarkable."
[Charlotte Nattey 6.4.97]

Related Quilts:
1400 x 400mm
The work is not padded "The lining at the edge of the quilt (for approx.175mm) is a plain weave fabric of a Chinoiserie design. The centre field of the lining is a rectangular panel of a twill weave brushed cotton fabric with a striped floral design." [NGA] 2215 x 2070mm
2286 x 915mm
2200 x 1100mm
1900 x 1900mm
The quilt is not padded. The patchwork is fully lined with a printed plain weave cotton fabric with a design commemorating Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The design is based on a repeated grid of circles. In the centre of each circle is a cameo of Queen Victoria, surrounded by images of the national flowers of England, Scotland and Ireland: the rose, the thistle and the shamrock. The edge of the front face of the quilt is trimmed with a red and white cotton braid." [NGA] 2380 x 2220mm