Queen and tent stitch needlework picture
Name/Title
Queen and tent stitch needlework pictureEntry/Object ID
2007.2.1Tags
17th century, Canvas work, Counted-thread embroidery, Sampler, Queen Stitch, Pictorial needleworkDescription
The central figure, a seated woman with a snake twisted around her right wrist, is wearing an ermine mantle and striped and floral gown, she is surrounded by flora and fauna, including a lion, snail, unicorn, and caterpillar, with a stone house and mica windows in the right background, and a stylized sun; white silk diaper pattern background. In a gold molded frame.Context
While the mythological, biblical and allegorical figures frequently seen in the seventeenth century English needlework are often presented in fashionable dress, the woman’s clothing in this exceptional needlework picture surpasses the typical finery. Silk tent stitch embroidery is used to depict her stole of ermine, sumptuous floral gown with a lining of red and white checks, and stylish shoes striped red and white. The serpent twisted around the woman’s right wrist reveals her role as a symbolic figure, although her identity is uncertain. Surrounding the central figure are classic motifs of seventeenth-century English needlework: insects, oversize flowers, a castle with mica windows, and a lion and unicorn symbolizing the English crown. The landscape is worked in queen stitch, while the white silk background is embroidered in a fine diamond pattern. This embroidered picture, rich in materials, details and workmanship, exemplifies the high quality of seventeenth-century English needlework pictures.Collection
ERS Sampler CollectionCategory
17th century