Stool
about 1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This stool is one of a pair given to the V&A by Her Majesty Queen Mary (1867-1953), Consort of King George V. The Queen was known as an avid collector who favoured jewellery, fans and miniature furniture – for which she commissioned several dolls’ houses, as well as objects with a royal association. However, she was also one of the earliest collectors of Victorian decorative arts such as papier mâché and embroidery, many examples of which she loaned or donated to the V&A for its Victorian galleries. This stool, with its Berlin work seat, is a good example of just the sort of decorative domestic object that appealed to the Queen.
Berlin work or woolwork was a type of embroidery which became popular during the nineteenth century. Often used in upholstery, it was also used to decorate slippers and small household objects. The name for this type of work is derived from the type of wool used for it. Berlin wool, also known as Berlin yarn or German wool, was a high quality worsted yarn spun from combed wool, with a harder twist than other yarns. This made it more durable and therefore particularly suitable for this type of embroidery.
Berlin work or woolwork was a type of embroidery which became popular during the nineteenth century. Often used in upholstery, it was also used to decorate slippers and small household objects. The name for this type of work is derived from the type of wool used for it. Berlin wool, also known as Berlin yarn or German wool, was a high quality worsted yarn spun from combed wool, with a harder twist than other yarns. This made it more durable and therefore particularly suitable for this type of embroidery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Mahogany, joined and upholstered with embroidered seat |
| Brief description | Stool, mahogany with embroidered seat, English, about 1840; given by H.M. Queen Mary |
| Physical description | Mahogany legs and seat rails, at either side the legs in the form of a scrolling x made up of one full-length piece and two shorter pieces tenoned in near the middle, the two sets of legs joined to each other by a turned stretcher tenoned through the central point of the X; on each side the tops of the legs are joined by a stretcher screwed into the top of each leg; this stretcher provides the main support for the rectangular seat frame which it is screwed up into from underneath; the side seat rails are tenoned into the front and back seat rails, the upholstery has been built up over this frame and an ovolo moulding applied round the bottom of the rails over the top of this; the seat is upholstered with Berlin woolwork depicting a bouquet of flowers in the centre on a black ground with smaller foliate sprays at each corner. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by H.M. Queen Mary |
| Object history | Formerly on loan to the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford (1978-2007). |
| Summary | This stool is one of a pair given to the V&A by Her Majesty Queen Mary (1867-1953), Consort of King George V. The Queen was known as an avid collector who favoured jewellery, fans and miniature furniture – for which she commissioned several dolls’ houses, as well as objects with a royal association. However, she was also one of the earliest collectors of Victorian decorative arts such as papier mâché and embroidery, many examples of which she loaned or donated to the V&A for its Victorian galleries. This stool, with its Berlin work seat, is a good example of just the sort of decorative domestic object that appealed to the Queen. Berlin work or woolwork was a type of embroidery which became popular during the nineteenth century. Often used in upholstery, it was also used to decorate slippers and small household objects. The name for this type of work is derived from the type of wool used for it. Berlin wool, also known as Berlin yarn or German wool, was a high quality worsted yarn spun from combed wool, with a harder twist than other yarns. This made it more durable and therefore particularly suitable for this type of embroidery. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.57&A-1935 |
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| Record created | May 31, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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