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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Oxburgh Hangings

Panel
ca. 1570 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

It was a popular pastime of wealthy ladies in the 16th century to make up large decorative hangings from a number of smaller panels. This enabled a group of women to work on individual panels at the same time. The hangings would be used as part of a bed set, as either curtains or covers, or be placed on the wall like a tapestry. If necessary, they could be dismantled at a later stage and the panels reused. In the case of this hanging, it seems likely that the panels were left unused until the 17th century.

It is very rare to be able to identify surviving embroideries as having been owned or worked by royalty. This piece and others in the same group are exceptional since they were worked by Mary, Queen of Scots and her attendants. During her long imprisonment she made numerous embroideries, some of which have her initials or cipher. This activity must have both filled her time and occupied her mind as many of the emblems or mottoes have more significance than is immediately apparent.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Oxburgh Hangings (series title)
Materials and techniques
Embroidered canvas with silk, gold and metal threads
Brief description
Textile panel 'The Oxburgh Hangings' of embroidered canvas with silk, gold and metal threads, possibly made by Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth Talbot, England, ca. 1570
Physical description
Textile panel of embroidered canvas with silk, gold and metal threads in cross stitch.
Dimensions
  • Length: 10.25in
  • Width: 11in
Marks and inscriptions
AN APE OF TVRKY (Embroidered on the scrolls)
Credit line
Presented by Art Fund
Object history
The Oxburgh Hangings. Hanging with applied panels of embroidery, formerly at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk.
Subject depicted
Summary
It was a popular pastime of wealthy ladies in the 16th century to make up large decorative hangings from a number of smaller panels. This enabled a group of women to work on individual panels at the same time. The hangings would be used as part of a bed set, as either curtains or covers, or be placed on the wall like a tapestry. If necessary, they could be dismantled at a later stage and the panels reused. In the case of this hanging, it seems likely that the panels were left unused until the 17th century.

It is very rare to be able to identify surviving embroideries as having been owned or worked by royalty. This piece and others in the same group are exceptional since they were worked by Mary, Queen of Scots and her attendants. During her long imprisonment she made numerous embroideries, some of which have her initials or cipher. This activity must have both filled her time and occupied her mind as many of the emblems or mottoes have more significance than is immediately apparent.
Collection
Accession number
T.33DD-1955

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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