Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Panel

1570-1585 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This panel bears a monogram of the initials of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth (Bess) Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury. It is part of a collection of needlework known as the Oxburgh hangings. They were made between 1570 and about 1585, the work of Mary during her imprisonment in England Bess whose husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury was responsible for Mary while she stayed at one or other of the Shrewsbury estates. The partial inscription, GRA DISSHE, is probably a short form for Grace Cavendisshe. Bess's second husband was Henry Cavendish.

This panel of canvas work (stitching over the threads of a coarsely woven linen) is embroidered in coloured silks, silver and silver-gilt thread. Not all the panels were embroidered by Mary and Bess, as household accounts show that both had professional embroiderers on staff. The existing ‘hangings’ consist of a of wall hanging, two bed curtains and valance, on permanent long-term loan at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. However these were probably not the original arrangement of the embroidery, but sewn together in the late 17th century. This group of 33 embroideries are the remains of another hanging, now unpicked.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered linen canvas with silk and silver-gilt threads
Brief description
Octagonal panel of embroidered linen canvas with silk and silver-gilt threads, possibly made by Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth Talbot, England, 1570-1585
Physical description
Octagonal panel of embroidered linen canvas with silk and silver-gilt threads. Cut in half vertically with a monogram containing the letters M, R, E, S and an inscription, worked in blue, pink, white, yellow and green silks with a raised border of silver-gilt embroidery.
Dimensions
  • Height: 40.5cm
  • Width: 24.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • M R E S phi [not clear, superimposed] (Monogram in centre of panel)
  • DISS HE. GRA (Partial inscription around the border of the panel, probably Grace Cavendishe)
Credit line
Presented by Art Fund
Summary
This panel bears a monogram of the initials of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth (Bess) Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury. It is part of a collection of needlework known as the Oxburgh hangings. They were made between 1570 and about 1585, the work of Mary during her imprisonment in England Bess whose husband George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury was responsible for Mary while she stayed at one or other of the Shrewsbury estates. The partial inscription, GRA DISSHE, is probably a short form for Grace Cavendisshe. Bess's second husband was Henry Cavendish.

This panel of canvas work (stitching over the threads of a coarsely woven linen) is embroidered in coloured silks, silver and silver-gilt thread. Not all the panels were embroidered by Mary and Bess, as household accounts show that both had professional embroiderers on staff. The existing ‘hangings’ consist of a of wall hanging, two bed curtains and valance, on permanent long-term loan at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. However these were probably not the original arrangement of the embroidery, but sewn together in the late 17th century. This group of 33 embroideries are the remains of another hanging, now unpicked.
Collection
Accession number
T.33C-1955

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Record createdAugust 15, 2007
Record URL
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