A Late 17th Century William and Mary Crewelwork Panel

A late 17th century crewelwork square bed hanging worked on a linen twill background, in brightly coloured worsted wool and depicting entwined trees with exotic leaves, birds and flowers on a hillock ground with stags, leopards and flowers, centred by an exotic pavilion; within a Cinder coloured linen (and backing) recently applied.

These bed hangings were intended as curtains for the state bed in a grand house and are rare survivors of late 17th Century English needlecraft. The design of these fantastic landscapes was influenced by Indian embroidery imported by the East India Company into Europe and reflects the fashion for the exotic, and fascination with the mysticism of the East. A set of bed hangings of identical design is in the collection of Lord Walpole at Mannington Hall, Norfolk, and another pair of hangings, formerly at Leeds Castle, Kent, is illustrated in Mallett Millennium. Related crewelwork panels are also in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. English, circa 1690.

Provenance:
Earl Annesley, Castlewellan Castle, County Down, Ireland.

Dimensions:

230cm x 230cm (7 foot 7″ x 7 foot 7″)