Swellendam area

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Contact:     Carool Johnson    028.514.2951    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Article from The Drostdy Museum Newsletter May 2008

Swellendam.

 From the 15^th to the 24^th March, the museum hosted a splendid exhibition of quilts produced by the Hilltop Quilters, Swellendam’s now famous group. This was the group’s annual exhibition, opening on International Quilt Day. Every year the Hilltop Quilters do something special on this day, either exhibiting their work to Swellendammers and visitors.

This year, says Carool Johnson, the group exhibited 91 pieces, which included a few quilted bags and runners. On the first day of the exhibition, viewers were asked to vote for the best three pieces. Zelda van Heerden’s runner was voted first choice, and Rachel du Toit’s quilt of pink hearts came in second. Susan Hodge’s unusual African strip quilt was voted in third place. Congratulations to these ladies, and to all the quilters who took part. Two quilts were also raffled, one being a strip quilt made by the group, and the other being the quilt that the group made in situ at this year’s Swellendam Agricultural Show.

Carool was more than happy with the venue. She said that the exhibition brought the Drostdy alive and provided a wonderfully rich backdrop for the display; this time even more so as quilts were draped on some items of furniture, and some were arranged to spill out of the magnificent armoire in the main bedroom. In this way visitors had the best of both worlds, seeing the quilts to their best advantage, and also seeing some of the Drostdy’s rich pieces of furniture put to functional use.

Unfinished quilts were displayed in the second bedroom. During the first day visitors were allowed to walk through the rooms and absorb the ambience of the lovely old residence and appreciate at close quarters the fine work executed on both the furnishings and the quilts. Quilters wore white gloves so that the textiles could be treated with the necessary respect. The Hilltoppers had also collected a number of old quilts which were on display in a magnificent wardrobe. Carool’s advice to visitors for next year is to be there on the first day of the exhibition, as this will be the only day on which special access will be allowed to otherwise inaccessible areas in the rooms.

‘This was such a special day for us,’ says Carool, ‘and we want to plan something extraordinary for next year.’ Quilters are already considering next year’s exhibition, and they might well come up with some lovely surprises. She expressed her appreciation for the co-operation of museum staff, especially Jomien, who permitted the unusual walk-about in the Drostdy. She says: ‘When we invaded the Drostdy space on Friday afternoon, Miemie Rothmann was alarmed. She could not believe what was happening to her usual quiet space. But she soon saw that we were treating the Drostdy and its artefacts with respect, and by the time we had to dismantle the exhibition, she was quite sorry to see us go. I was so sad to take the quilts away – I believe the glowing colours did something for the old building and vice versa, and some townsfolk said that for the first time they had seen it through new eyes.’

The traditional art of quilting is enjoying a worldwide revival, with collectors paying high prices for old quilts. As Carool says, the view of many South African men is that it’s something their wives do in their spare time, and therefore quilting has little value in their eyes. She wishes the public in general could become better informed about this age-old craft, the traditions that govern it and the amount of work and creativity that goes into the making of a beautiful quilt. In South Africa our traditional quilts were of course the ‘lappieskomberse’. Some might think of it as simple folk art, but few realise its true significance. Indeed, the South African Quilter’s Guild is drawing up a register of old quilts; something that cultural historians will find to be of value. Should you by any chance find an old quilt in the attic, Carool would be very pleased to hear from you. She promises not to take the quilt away, but would see to it that the details were recorded for the register. The tradition of quilting has long been respected in the USA, where there are many quilt museums. In Europe sadly, according to Carool, there has been little respect for the craft, but gradually that perception is also changing.