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The Judgement of Solomon

Embroidered Picture
1686 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Embroidered picture showing the Judgement of Solomon. The King, a fully-round figure, robed in ermine and holding an orb and sceptre, is seated in the centre on a canopied throne. In low-relief are, on the left, one mother and an executioner about to bisect the infant; on the right is the second mother. Below the king is signed '16 AP 86'. Bottom-centre is a fountain standing in a rocaille basin wherein swims a fish.

To the top-right is a castle with open doors and mica windows. The rest of the field is powdered with plants (pear, oak and apple trees; strawberry, tulip, carnation, rose, thistle etc.) and animals (lion, horse, griffin, rabbit, squirrel, snail, caterpillar, etc.), some of them fully-round.

The object is worked in raised and padded work, long and short, split, satin, rococo and tent stitches, French knots, couched work, needlepoint lace, knitting, beadwork, pieces of metal, stone, mica and glass. Predominant colours of the silks: blue, pink, yellow, green white; of the glass beads, gree, blue, brown and mauve.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Judgement of Solomon (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silk satin embroidered with silk and embellished with mica, glass beads and metals
Brief description
embroidered, 1686, English; raised work; the Judgement of Solomon
Physical description
Embroidered picture showing the Judgement of Solomon. The King, a fully-round figure, robed in ermine and holding an orb and sceptre, is seated in the centre on a canopied throne. In low-relief are, on the left, one mother and an executioner about to bisect the infant; on the right is the second mother. Below the king is signed '16 AP 86'. Bottom-centre is a fountain standing in a rocaille basin wherein swims a fish.

To the top-right is a castle with open doors and mica windows. The rest of the field is powdered with plants (pear, oak and apple trees; strawberry, tulip, carnation, rose, thistle etc.) and animals (lion, horse, griffin, rabbit, squirrel, snail, caterpillar, etc.), some of them fully-round.

The object is worked in raised and padded work, long and short, split, satin, rococo and tent stitches, French knots, couched work, needlepoint lace, knitting, beadwork, pieces of metal, stone, mica and glass. Predominant colours of the silks: blue, pink, yellow, green white; of the glass beads, gree, blue, brown and mauve.
Dimensions
  • Length: 59cm (Note: including frame)
  • Width: 47.5cm (Note: including frame)
Marks and inscriptions
'16 A P 86'
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lord Plender
Object history
Bequeathed to the V&A in February 1946 by Messrs. Deloitte Plender & Co., 5 London Wall Buildings, EC, as executors of the estate of the late William Plender, 1st Baron Plender (acquisition papers: 46/363). On entry to the Museum its condition was described as 'good'.
Subjects depicted
Literary reference1 Kings 3:16-28
Collection
Accession number
T.17-1946

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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