Olive
Slip
ca. 1600 (made)
ca. 1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This slip, one of a small group, depicts a finch in an olive tree.
Materials and Making
Slips were small, usually floral motifs drawn onto canvas, then embroidered and cut out. They would be applied to a rich backing fabric such as velvet or satin. They were used in various types of furnishing, particularly bed hangings. It was more manageable for the domestic embroiderer to work a small piece of canvas that could be held in the hand than to tackle a large embroidery in a single piece. It was also easier, if necessary, to detach the slips and reapply them to another backing.
People
Two manuscript notes in the V&A relate to the commissioning of these slips. They were apparently written by Anne Sydney, daughter of Sir William Sydney of Penshurst, Kent, who married Sir William Fitzwilliam (1526-1599). They seem to indicate that the slips were worked to commission, but almost certainly by household servants, Mrs Fisher and Mrs Lyell, rather than in a workshop.
This slip, one of a small group, depicts a finch in an olive tree.
Materials and Making
Slips were small, usually floral motifs drawn onto canvas, then embroidered and cut out. They would be applied to a rich backing fabric such as velvet or satin. They were used in various types of furnishing, particularly bed hangings. It was more manageable for the domestic embroiderer to work a small piece of canvas that could be held in the hand than to tackle a large embroidery in a single piece. It was also easier, if necessary, to detach the slips and reapply them to another backing.
People
Two manuscript notes in the V&A relate to the commissioning of these slips. They were apparently written by Anne Sydney, daughter of Sir William Sydney of Penshurst, Kent, who married Sir William Fitzwilliam (1526-1599). They seem to indicate that the slips were worked to commission, but almost certainly by household servants, Mrs Fisher and Mrs Lyell, rather than in a workshop.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Olive (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Embroidered canvas with silks |
| Brief description | Slip 'Olive' of embroidered canvas with silk, England, ca. 1600 |
| Physical description | Slip of embroidered canvas with silks in shades of green , yellow, blue, black, cream and brown in tent stitch. The ground is unworked except for two small experimental patches. One of these patches is solidly worked in tent stitch with yellow and brown silk, and the other is worked in red silk in tent stitch. The slip depicts a stiff sprig of olive with a cut stem. In the branches is a small blue and yellow bird of the finch family. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The coat of arms represents the marriage of Anne Sidney to Sir William Fitzwilliam (1526-1599). Slips were small motifs that were embroidered onto canvas, then cut out and stitched onto larger pieces of fabric. Floral motifs were particularly popular for domestic embroidery. A manuscript records that these slips were intended for hangings, probably for a bed.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in England |
| Summary | Object Type This slip, one of a small group, depicts a finch in an olive tree. Materials and Making Slips were small, usually floral motifs drawn onto canvas, then embroidered and cut out. They would be applied to a rich backing fabric such as velvet or satin. They were used in various types of furnishing, particularly bed hangings. It was more manageable for the domestic embroiderer to work a small piece of canvas that could be held in the hand than to tackle a large embroidery in a single piece. It was also easier, if necessary, to detach the slips and reapply them to another backing. People Two manuscript notes in the V&A relate to the commissioning of these slips. They were apparently written by Anne Sydney, daughter of Sir William Sydney of Penshurst, Kent, who married Sir William Fitzwilliam (1526-1599). They seem to indicate that the slips were worked to commission, but almost certainly by household servants, Mrs Fisher and Mrs Lyell, rather than in a workshop. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.49-1972 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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