Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust On-Line Textile Collection

The Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust now has their textile collection on line which includes some fine pieces such as this English gentleman's night cap of around 1610.

It is of linen embroidered with coloured silks, silver and silver-gilt thread in detached buttonhole, herringbone, speckling, chain and plaited braid stitches and knots; cap is cut from a single piece of linen with four shaped quarters and a turned up brim; each quarter contains a composite plant of rose, borage, pansy and strawberry enclosed within a coiling stem; small scale versions of the same plant decorate the brim.

There are samplers also. The large sampler above in Ann Hathaway's House depicts Faith Hope and Charity, resembling one in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection

The sampler above is a rare James II embroidered band sampler, signed Elizabeth Herne May 10th 1687.

The embroidered jacket above was worked about 1610 on fine linen. The front is embroidered with gilt scrolling branches, terminating in leafy tips in shades of green and yellow; the background sewn with silver spangles. It is laced up back and hooked up front. It is thought to have been worn by Eleanor Cave, who married Sir George Beeston of Beeston Castle, Cheshire in 1609. She was widowed in 1611 and subsequently married to Sir Thomas Roe at St Margaret's, Westminster on 15th December 1614. Roe was Ambassador to Jahangir the Mughal, 1615-18 and to the Sublime Porte (Constantinople), 1621-28. Lady Roe accompanied him to the latter. She died in 1675.

Above and below you can see an early 17th century coif worked on linen with blackwork embroidery in silk and gilt thread.

Made in the first third of the 17th century this embroidered pillow has a ground of white silk satin. Its two corners still retain silk acorn tassels. To see these treasures for yourself, click here. (Enter embroidered in the search box.)

Norfolk School Sampler @ Keys Auction 10 September, 2013

Lot 1244 for auction at Keys Fine Art Auctioneers on 10 September is a small but recognisable member of the Norfolk School sampler group with its symmetrical octagonal cartouches framing potted plants and stepping animals. It is signed Ann Cullyer and dated 1781 and measures 10” wide. It has an estimate of £30 - £50.

Also in this sale is Lot 1245 - a large early 19th Century Framed Needlework Sampler, decorated with floral border, extensive decoration of birds, animals, flowers etc to centre, and a panel of religious text, signed Hannah Osborne Age 11 1834. It measures 19 ½” wide and has no estimate as yet.

Lot 1299 is an unframed 19th Century Needlework Sampler, decorated with a floral border and central rows of letters, numbers and religious text, signed Susanna Fox April and dated 1860. It measures 13 ½” wide and comes with an estimate of £50 - £70. For more details about these samplers, click here.

Antiques Roadshow - Another Stuart Panel Found In House

When it featured on the Antiques Roadshow some time ago I was rather astonished to hear that this panel had been left behind with the house when its owners sold up. I should change my estate agent for someone who can find me this sort of property in future!

In the clip which you can watch below, Hilary Kay identifies the central figure in this panel as the symbol of the Sense of Smell or Oderatus. There are a number of illustrations for her - one sedate one by Crispijn de Passe the Elder of 1590,

one with a rather scurrilous verse by George Glover of 1630 which implies having a dog with you is always a good excuse for any bad smells - see below.

And then one I really like by David Teniers the Younger from the second half of the 1600s.

Hilary mentions a print by Thomas Johnson of 1630 which I have been unable to find for you. I think she means a print sold by Johnson but which was actually engraved by Simon van de Passe (a son of Crispijn) like the Animalium quadrupedum, auium, florum, fructuum ... veræ delineationes in æes [sic] incisæ. A Booke of Beast, Birds, Flowers, etc. [Plates by S. de Passe.] Sold by Thomas Johnson 1630.

And while Hilary thinks the motifs around the panel were copied by the girl from a book of engravings, I rather think that they were drawn and arranged as a total design by a more expert hand for the girl to stitch, possibly under tuition from an experienced needleworker.

Whatever the history, for we cannot be certain, this wonderful panel was valued at between £3,000 - £5,000. Quite a find in your new house!

Can You Help Anna Identify These Pictures?

Anna is putting the finishing touches to a needlework research paper and would dearly love to be able to use these images - the problem is that she found them on the internet and doesn't know the artists or the location of the pictures. If you can help her in any way, please click on the flying angel on the right hand side bar to email or leave a comment. Thank you.