The Euklisia rug
An innovative rug that’s been described as the world’s first sleeping bag has been re-made and is going on display at the Newtown Textile Museum. The Euklisia rug (patented by Newtown entrepreneur Pryce Jones in 1876) was exported to many places around world in the late 19th century. Documents show he sold 60,000 the rugs to the Russian army, the British army also bought them to use in the world wars. There are records of civilian uses too - among missionaries in Africa and pioneers in the Australian outback. No examples of the rug appear to have survived - but researchers on a BBC Wales TV series, Wales and the History of the World - recreated one using the original patent material. Presenter Eddie Butler said: “It was great to see this Welsh fist brought back to life.” Pryce Jones, who was apprenticed to a draper at the age of 12, became a business powerhouse in mid-Wales after publishing the world’s first mail order catalogues. He finally had hundreds of thousands of customers around Europe, including many royals. Newtown Textile Museum is open from May to September 2010. - BBC news online