Rare Georgian quilts saved from bonfire find new life in London's textile treasure trove
A rare pair of early-19th-century Georgian chintz medallion patchworks, each worth £5,000, narrowly escaped destruction by fire. The quilts were rescued from a bonfire by Christopher Wilson-Tate, a specialist dealer in antique textiles. His London shop, the Antique Textiles Company, now houses over 1,200 quilts, each with its own story.
Wilson-Tate began trading quilts at just 17 years old. By 19, he had opened his first shop in Newcastle. Today, his business operates from a bright emporium on Abbey Road, established in 2021.
The shop offers quilts ranging from £300 to thousands of pounds. Among the most valuable is a late-18th-century English patchwork priced at around £20,000. Over his career, Wilson-Tate has sold approximately 25,000 quilts, building lasting relationships with collectors and enthusiasts.
British quilts in the collection vary by region. South Welsh examples, for instance, are known for their thickness and deep padding. In contrast, American quilts—more common on the market—tend to be lighter, with cotton wadding and bold, graphic designs. Wilson-Tate's personal collection alone includes around 600 quilts, reflecting his lifelong dedication to preserving these textiles.
Quilting itself dates back to ancient Egypt, but the shop specialises in pieces from the British Isles. While no records link Wilson-Tate to formal research on quilting traditions in mining regions like South Wales or Durham, his expertise lies in sourcing and curating these historical textiles.
The rescued Georgian patchworks now join a vast collection at the Antique Textiles Company. Visitors to the Abbey Road shop can explore over 1,200 quilts, each offering a glimpse into centuries of craftsmanship. Wilson-Tate's work ensures these fragile pieces of history remain accessible to future generations.
