An important suite of whitework bedhangings attributable to Mrs. Delany and her Circle, comprising a bed tester of knotted work with an urn of flowers, a peacock, a pekinese, a squirrel, birds and garlands of flowers, a coverlet similarly worked with a cow, a bear, a stag, a lion, butterflies and fives bunches of flowers tied with ribbons, the border with a garland of flowers suspended from ribbons, both attributable to Mary Delany, a pair of curtains each worked with two oak trees with parrots perched in them, a rose bush and a palm tree with a bird nesting in it, all three issuing from hillocks with Chinoiserie buildings, a stag, a cow and thistles, with above two long sprays of flowers suspended from large bows, two birds and two butterflies, embroidered with the dates 1753 and 1754, the sides edged with knotted fringe, two short and one long pelmet worked with palm trees and chinoiserie buildings, edged with knotted fringe, the two short pelmets attached to the tester and coverlet - the last five pieces by a follower of Mrs. Delany - the tester 71in x 66in. (180cm. x 167cm.), the coverlet 70in x 59in. (178in. x 150cm.), the curtains 91in. x 87in. (231cm. x 224cm.) - mounted as two pairs of curtains in the 20th century 110in. drop (tester worn, coverlet very worn)See Illustration of tester (5)

THE PROPERTY OF Mr. and Mrs. Charles Burrell Removed from Knepp Castle, Sussex

An important suite of whitework bedhangings attributable to Mrs. Delany and her Circle, comprising a bed tester of knotted work with an urn of flowers, a peacock, a pekinese, a squirrel, birds and garlands of flowers, a coverlet similarly worked with a cow, a bear, a stag, a lion, butterflies and fives bunches of flowers tied with ribbons, the border with a garland of flowers suspended from ribbons, both attributable to Mary Delany, a pair of curtains each worked with two oak trees with parrots perched in them, a rose bush and a palm tree with a bird nesting in it, all three issuing from hillocks with Chinoiserie buildings, a stag, a cow and thistles, with above two long sprays of flowers suspended from large bows, two birds and two butterflies, embroidered with the dates 1753 and 1754, the sides edged with knotted fringe, two short and one long pelmet worked with palm trees and chinoiserie buildings, edged with knotted fringe, the two short pelmets attached to the tester and coverlet - the last five pieces by a follower of Mrs. Delany - the tester 71in x 66in. (180cm. x 167cm.), the coverlet 70in x 59in. (178in. x 150cm.), the curtains 91in. x 87in. (231cm. x 224cm.) - mounted as two pairs of curtains in the 20th century 110in. drop (tester worn, coverlet very worn) See Illustration of tester (5)

Details

An important suite of whitework bedhangings attributable to Mrs. Delany and her Circle, comprising a bed tester of knotted work with an urn of flowers, a peacock, a pekinese, a squirrel, birds and garlands of flowers, a coverlet similarly worked with a cow, a bear, a stag, a lion, butterflies and fives bunches of flowers tied with ribbons, the border with a garland of flowers suspended from ribbons, both attributable to Mary Delany, a pair of curtains each worked with two oak trees with parrots perched in them, a rose bush and a palm tree with a bird nesting in it, all three issuing from hillocks with Chinoiserie buildings, a stag, a cow and thistles, with above two long sprays of flowers suspended from large bows, two birds and two butterflies, embroidered with the dates 1753 and 1754, the sides edged with knotted fringe, two short and one long pelmet worked with palm trees and chinoiserie buildings, edged with knotted fringe, the two short pelmets attached to the tester and coverlet - the last five pieces by a follower of Mrs. Delany - the tester 71in x 66in. (180cm. x 167cm.), the coverlet 70in x 59in. (178in. x 150cm.), the curtains 91in. x 87in. (231cm. x 224cm.) - mounted as two pairs of curtains in the 20th century 110in. drop (tester worn, coverlet very worn)
See Illustration of tester (5)

Provenance

The First Lady Cowdray, given to her niece, Lady Burrell, grandmother of the vendor.

Lot Essay

Mary Delany (1700 - 1788) the blue stocking was celebrated for her knotted embroidery. A coverlet made for her godson, Thomas Sandford, was sold at Christie's South Kensington in 1978 to the Ulster Museum. As most of her knotted work was made as gifts for relatives and friends, it is probable that the curtains were made by the recipient of her gift.

More from Fine Costume & Textiles

View All