Looking for that special gift for the British couple who are soon-to-be parents again? How about an antique crib quilt? Each was first made for a 19th or 20th century baby whose family probably considered their offspring a prince or princess too.

NYC antiques dealer Laura Fisher has diverse antique textiles that would make a meaningful gift for the Windsor baby or for any offspring you might be anticipating.

Perhaps the royal family would prefer a hooked rug to place by the royal crib. There’s a crown prominent on a rug that was probably hooked for the visit  to North America of Wills’ grandmother the Queen in the mid 20th century. And there are pictorial rugs with images to delight a child such as the Noah’s Ark with animals.

To wrap mother and child together in comfort, choose the elegance of an antique shawl in a traditional Scottish tartan, or in a classic paisley pattern manufactured there during the mid-19th century. Either type is familiar from myriad English period portraits.

If you prefer something geared to the parents, how about the superlative, sailor-made masterpiece made of wool uniforms that depicts the seasons and the countries of the British Commonwealth to which he traveled? This is just the extraordinary hand made textile to enter a royal collection.

 A jacquard coverlet dated 1842 was woven by James Alexander who emigrated to the U.S. where in New Britain, NY he worked alongside other English weavers to create superb quality American bedcovers that remain desirable 150 years later. Fisher’s choice example proclaims in its signature block “Agriculture & Manufactures are the Foundation of American Independence.”

Depicting their future roles, a King and Queen figure prominently in a rare whole cloth quilt of fabric from the Oriental Print Works factory in New England. Other antique quilts in Fisher’s inventory include some with pattern names related to English history including Kings Crown and Whig Rose. (Fisher’s gallery provided the special quilt presented to Will’s father Prince Charles when he launched a British goods promotion in Chicago. Thanks to Fisher’s research, the company chose her Princess Feather quilt, its pattern based on the insignia that symbolizes the Prince of Wales).

 In addition to American quilts, Fisher also carries English quilts, English ‘Marseilles’ white woven bedspreads, and hand knit bedspreads beloved by Englishwomen. 

 Among the choices are:

*GRANDMOTHER’S FLOWER GARDEN, a Midwestern Amish crib quilt c. 1930s in lovely solid pastel cottons

*TINY BASKETS, an 1880s diminutive pattern in warm neutral prints

*ROYAL CROWN HOOKED RUG, wool, c. 1940s

*CIRCUS HOOKED RUG with a clowns and animals, c. 1940s. wool

* CASTLE IN A LANDSCAPE HOOKED RUG, late 19th c, wool

*PAISLEY SHAWLS, mid 19th century, wool in squares and rectangles

*TARTAN PLAID SHAWLS in various colors, squares and rectangles

*rare SAILOR MADE COMMONWEALTH PORTS QUILT, late 19th c, wool uniforms pieced and appliqued, unique

*JAMES ALEXANDER JACQUARD COVERLET, wool and cotton, NYState             

FISHER HERITAGE gallery hours are by appointment only.

Email fisherheritage@yahoo.com, or phone 917/797-1260 to plan yours.

 International shipping provided!