Ben Thomas striped blanket in Pink & Yellow NL21

This splendid early Twentieth Century narrow width blanket is from my favourite mill: Cilcennin. A few miles North East of here and now a residential dwelling. It was l;eased to the Thomas family for two generations from Ty Mawr estate & run in conjunction with a 60 acre holding.

Ben Thomas known locally as Ben factri ran this little mill until its closure in the 1950s`. Never changing from outdated methods & antiquated machinery of a previous century. Flannel looms & coarse cloth hand sewn together to create distinctive bedcovers. 

His patterns & designs are well documented , with his day books being held at the National archive in Aberystwyth. He produced a large number of varying striped patterns , woven in a simple two & two twill. Favouring undyed Cream & Greys with Indigo & Scarlet. The national archive records that; in 1918 he introduced Pink & Yellow, German analine dyes quite modern for Ben Thomas.

This lovely example recently aquired from Mydroilyn has had very little use & is in fabulous condition. A large blanket , it will cover a double bed.

In undyed yarns of Cream & Dove Grey travelling vertically down the cloth, bisected by single bands of Scarlet & Violet. A distinctive border design either end in tramlines of Bright Pink, Yellow & Violet creating an overcheck where the patterns meet.

A thick cloth of excellent quality using Welsh wool. Utilitarian & kempy in construction. It has been machine sewn together & across the warp ends.

Bendegedig!

Measures 90" x 70" ( 230cm x 178cm)