Chair seat embroidered in wool, 1700-1750, English

Chair seat embroidered in wool yarn depicting Jupiter, Danae, and Cupid, surrounded by a border of various flowers

Bequeathed by Dame Ethel Locke King

Part of a large bequest of embroidered seat furniture. The bequest comprised :
a settee seat and back with 3 animal (fable?) scenes in each; 2 octagonal panels with story of infant Pan; 2 cushion covers with scenes in German style; 4 cushion covers; 2 cushion covers with scenes representing Seasons ?;12 small cushion covers with scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses.

In letter from the donor's nephew Stewart Gore-Browne he writes :
“They were worked by the first Lady King and her ladies. She was the wife of Peter Ist Baron King who was Lord Chancellor from 1725 to 1733. His mother was the sister of John Locke the philosopher.” He believed they were brought from Ockham, the family seat, to Brooklands, where they were found by Dame Ethel Locke King, who had them mounted and taken care of. They appear to have entered the Museum mounted, but as the mounting was modern have been unmounted since.

T.120J-1956