Heritage Doll Quilts on Display

A collection of heritage doll quilts and quilting photographs are on display at the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design in Halifax.

The display, prepared by Barbara Hill-Taylor of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, includes quilts such as the Sugar Bag Quilt, Bow Tie Quilt, Pineapple Blocks and a Centennial Quilt. The quilts, as well as an antique doll and crib, are from the collection of Barb Robson.

The photographs in the display, taken in the early 1900's, are courtesy of the history section of the Nova Scotia Museum. The images reflect quilting in Guysborough, Lunenburg, Halifax and Digby counties.

The doll quilts have been registered as part of the Nova Scotia Heritage Quilt Project, a project of the Mayflower Quilters Guild since January 1995. Although most of the quilts in the registry have been made in Nova Scotia, some quilts were made in other provinces and countries. All registered quilts were made prior to 1970.

As part of the registry, quilts are photographed, documented, and entered into a computer database. Quilt Registry Days have been held in communities throughout Nova Scotia and so far almost 1,000 quilts are listed.

The doll quilts display is being held in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Heritage Quilt Project, Mayflower Quilters Guild, this year's Craft Theme Year Program - 2000 The Year of the Quilt, the Nova Scotia Museum, and the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council.

For further information on the display call 902-424-4062. The Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design is located at 1683 Barrington Street. The centre is open from Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m and 4 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.