Seeing Red; The Influence of Turkey Red Dye on Quiltmaking

Article Added: 01/07/2009 09:47:37
The Quilt Museum and Gallery, York, will open its autumn season on 5 September with ‘Seeing Red; The influence of Turkey Red Dye on Quiltmaking.’ The exhibition is being held in association with the Collins Gallery, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and will feature quilts dyed with ‘Turkey Red.’

The ‘Turkey Red’ dye was introduced into Britain in 1785 and became a popular process of dyeing fabric because of its luscious, deep red colour and colourfast properties. In the past, textile printers did not try to dye ‘Turkey Red’ because it was so difficult to produce, so instead turned to specialist ‘Turkey Red’ dyers, a process which was time consuming and also very expensive. However it was commonly used in dressmaking and in domestic items such as quilts; because of its non-bleeding and fade proof qualities the colour would resist extensive laundering.

The first successful British manufacture of ‘Turkey Red’ dye took place in Glasgow on the initiative of two mill owners, George Mackintosh and David Dale. They hired a Frenchman, Pierre Jacques Papillon, to show them the new process and secret of making the red dye. Glasgow soon developed a major export trade, providing striped and checked cottons for clothing, and remained a successful industry into the early part of the 20th century.

The Museum’s Great Hall will display a selection of historic plain and patterned ‘Turkey Red’ quilts. In particular, old red and white quilts in the exhibition are evidence of the durability of ‘Turkey Red’ dye. Further designs of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries consist of elaborate and colourful red-green appliqué. The exhibition opens on 5th September until 23rd September 2009. For further information please look at museums website  www.quiltmuseum.org.uk.