Cover thumbnail 1
Cover thumbnail 2
+16
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Cover

1625-1685 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bed-cover was cut down from a chintz hanging to fit a bed. The central motif is the Royal Stuart arms, suggesting a date during the reign of either Charles I (1625-49) or Charles II (1660-85). The style of drawing is unusual but compatible with either of these dates. The field design of animals, birds and floral patterns is a combination of Chinese and Indian motifs, and the half-pineapples on two sides may allude to the introduction of the pineapple into England in the late 1650s.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted and dyed cotton chintz
Brief description
Cover of painted and dyed cotton chintz, India, 1625-1685
Physical description
Cover of painted and dyed cotton chintz. This furnishing piece has as its centrepiece the Stuart Royal Arms of England, as current in the reigns of Charles I and Charles II, in a roundel, on a white field otherwise decorated with fruit, flowers, elephants and other creatures, some are fabulous, in shades of red and purple. Square in shape, but missing square sections at each corner. At intervals, around the gadrooned edge, are eight foliate palmettes.
Dimensions
  • Top edge width: 2192mm
  • Bottom edge width: 2195mm
  • Proper right length: 2500mm
  • Proper left width: 2555mm
  • Selvedge to selvedge height: 109cm
  • Weight: 8.5kg (Note: Weight on roller and pole)
Height selvedge to selvedge 109 cm
Marks and inscriptions
Royal Stuart Coat of Arms (central roundel)
Credit line
Given by Mrs E. A. Mauns
Object history
The textile bears the Royal Stuart Coat of arms but it is not possible to determine whether it is contemporary with Charles I or Charles II of Great Britain. The unusual shape of the design suggests use as a table or dias cover. Its exact provenance and early history are unknown.

Given by Mrs E.A.Mauns.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bed-cover was cut down from a chintz hanging to fit a bed. The central motif is the Royal Stuart arms, suggesting a date during the reign of either Charles I (1625-49) or Charles II (1660-85). The style of drawing is unusual but compatible with either of these dates. The field design of animals, birds and floral patterns is a combination of Chinese and Indian motifs, and the half-pineapples on two sides may allude to the introduction of the pineapple into England in the late 1650s.
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, J., and Swallow, D., (eds). ‘Arts of India: 1550-1900’. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990. ISBN 1851770224 p.162, pl.139.
  • Crill, Rosemary, Chintz: Indian Textiles for the West, London, 2008. Plate 31, pp 70 and 71
  • Irwin, John and Katherine Brett, Origins of Chintz, London, 1970. With a catalogue of Indo-European cotton-paintings in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. ISBN 112900534. p.97, cat. no. 74, pl. 73
Collection
Accession number
IS.21-1956

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 22, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest