The eiderdown is back in fashion again but did you know the history of it?
The eiderdown is a type of duck, and down, which are small fluffy feathers on a large sea duck or other large bird. They are used to fill pillows and mattresses and eiderdowns as it is very soft and has insulating properties.
The female eider duck plucks down from her breast to line her nest and cover the eggs. Once the nest has been abandoned, the eiderdown is gathered. The bird s are not disturbed.
Feather beds were only for the rich in the 14th Century but by the 19th Century they were something that most people could afford.
They wee introduced to Victorian Britain as marvellously light and a warm substitute for heavy woollen blankets, however they didn’t throw away the blankets.
Crafted By B Studio 
Fascinating stuff. I do often wish we us ed blankets instead of duvets, even tho ours is down and toasty warm i love crisp top sheets and cosy blankets
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Dad still uses blankets and would never change to a duvet. I wish I hadnt got rid of the eiderdowns I had 🙂
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They are such pretty pieces of bedding, wish I had some too 😀
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Interesting history Barb. Eiderdowns were so very popular in NZ before all the synthetic stuff came on the market.
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My Dad still uses blankets but got rid of his eiderdown a few years back, I wish I’d kept mine, they are so cody 🙂
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Oh remember those. Snug 😀
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Oh yes, definitely 🙂
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