A Norwich Darned and Embroidered Shawl Counterpane

Thank you for supporting Carrow House with your purchase of samplers charted by Philippa Sims. Here you can see an example of the good work undertaken by the Norfolk Costume and Textile Association. This unique, embroidered counterpane needed conservation and the NC&TA raised the necessary funds of £10,980 to complete its conservation in 1997. Conservation is expensive and now you can see the significant role played by your purchases - every purchase does make a difference. But I'll let Philippa Sims who is a member of the NC&TA and a volunteer at Carrow House tell you its interesting story.
'Folded away in a museum cardboard box is a piece of local textile history with royal and heraldic interest. Made in 1792 by the Norwich firm of Harvey and Knights this ten foot square Counterpane is a splendid - and possibly the earliest - example of embroidered shawling. It was donated soon after the opening of Strangers’ Hall Museum in the 1920s but sadly all details of the donor are lost. However, it is known to have been a prototype of a counterpane made for Queen Charlotte and won the Silver Medal of the Royal Society of Arts. Queen Charlotte and the Princesses visited the Norwich Shawl Exhibition in New Bond Street, London and perhaps this counterpane was on show.
Made with silk warp and wool weft, the design would have been block-printed on to the fabric and then embroidered. In the centre you can see the arms of George III with magnificent athletic supporters. The fleur de lis was included in the Royal Arms until George III abandoned the title of King of France in 1801, the arms of Hanover are two leopards for Brunswick, lion among hearts for Luneburg and the white horse for Westphalia. The crown above was the badge of the Arch-Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire. On four small corner shields are fleurs de lis, Scottish lion, Irish harp and three cuddly looking leopards! The embroidery in polychrome silks resembles weaving but is actually a very close darning stitch, creating some wonderful shading of colour, especially on the lion and unicorn.

The border is stitched in stem and chain stitch in realistic sprays of roses, thistles and laurel leaves, joined by Garter stars. In each corner is the monogram GR depicted in gold. All surrounded by a deep silk fringe.'

By Philippa Sims
Carrow House Costume and Textile Study Centre.

Vintage Textile Fair * 15 November 2009 * Blackfriars Hall, Norwich

Just in time for some very unique Christmas presents...... and something original for that special Christmas party.
Vintage costumes, bags, jewellery and so much more from over 30 specialist vintage traders. Sunday 15 November 2009
10 am - 4.00 pm.
Admission Charge £1.00.
Blackfriars Hall, St Andrews Halls, Norwich

Norwich Tree of Life Download

Your feedback on the first replica Norwich sampler by Jessy Lambert charted by Philippa Sims was so heartening that we thought you might like to see another one. This very pretty rose tree design is crested with a charm of birds - you can almost hear them singing. Just click here to purchase a special download of this Tree of Life chart.
And in case you missed Jessy Lambert's Sampler the first time around, here she is again for you to purchase. Just click here to purchase the Jessy Lambert chart download. Each chart costs £7 and your money is very well spent as profits go straight to Carrow House Costume and Textile Study Centre. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Seeing Double - The French Mary Wigham Head Board

Some of you have already finished stitching your Mary Wigham and I wonder how you would feel about immediately stitching it all over again, this time in reverse - as a mirror image? This is exactly what Aurore in France has undertaken to make a very special 'bed head' (I know that makes it sound like a bad hair day, but it's only what I learnt to call them, up in the wilds of Northern England.) Even the initials are reversed and the completion of the half medallions down the centre provides a strong design feature. It is almost finished and because of its size it is a tricky subject to photograph. But I hope you can see enough to love it, as I do.