Friedensquilt, Münster

Friedensquilt, Münster, Germany, 1998. Friedensquilt, Münster, Germany, 1998. Photograph Willem Vogelsang, May 2015.

In the main public hall of Münster's Rathaus (town hall), Germanythere is a large wall hanging representing peace. Although it is not actually a quilt it is closely related to the tradition of Friendship Quilts from the USA. The hanging was made in 1998 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia and as a direct reference to the Friedensfahne from 1648 that was made to celebrate the same event.

The wall hanging was organised by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Münsterscher Frauenorganisationen (AMF). Women and partners from the organisation living in Münster and Osnabrück, as well as women's groups from around the world (including Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia; lands that were involved in the Second World War, 1939-1945), all worked together to produce the quilt.

The hanging consists of 28 dark blue panels that were individually decorated and then sewn together. There are applied, appliquéd, embroidered, quilted, as well as woven forms. Each of the panels has been decorated with messages of peace, the names of particular groups, emblems representing peace or a particular country, and so forth. The wall hanging is currently on display behind the information and sales desk in the entrance hall of the Rathaus.

Seen on 24th May 2015 by Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood

GVE

Last modified on Wednesday, 19 April 2017 11:07