ANTIQUE c1860 Victorian Coat of Arms Royal Navy Silkwork Needlework Embroidery

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Seller: saintodo ✉️ (279) 0%, Location: Southampton, Hampshire, GB, Ships to: GB & many other countries, Item: 152398306716 ANTIQUE c1860 Victorian Coat of Arms Royal Navy Silkwork Needlework Embroidery .

A superb example of mid Victorian stumpwork needlework on blue silk, which shows the Royal Coat of Arms on top of white and red ensigns. Beautifully executed, full of character and very unusual. 

The garter reads ‘Honi Soit Que Mal Y Pens’(sic) and the banner reads ‘Diu et Mon Droit’ (sic). The coat of arms shows the three lion passant in top left and bottom right for England, the lion rampant for Scotland top right and the harp of Ireland. Beneath the garter in the compartment are the national flowers: the tudor rose, shamrock and the thistle.

The colours are now faded, but the content is absolutely charming. The cross eyed lion is beautiful, with his sharp claws, full mane and ferocious teeth, he is bursting with character. The unicorn is just as lovely, very finely executed with delicate, mouse like features and long elegant legs. Both the unicorn and lion have recessed eyes, a very effective technique, and it look as though a tiny sliver of glass or similar has been placed over both to make them more lifelike. One of the things I especially like about this is the cross eyed expression of the lion! 

Although in use for a number of years, before 1864 the red and white ensigns were often also used alongside a blue ensign. The lack of this blue ensign makes me wonder if this piece of work was created in the 1860s when the ensigns were re-designated, with white becoming the colour of the Royal Navy and the red duster being used by merchant vessels? Having said that, the embroidery ‘feels’ slightly earlier, so it may well be a bad theory…  so please do say if you think I’m wrong!

The blue ground silk is faded and the colour of the wool and silk threads is less vibrant than it once would have been. Where the gold thread has fallen away on the starburst, you can see the colour the blue ground would have been originally. There are black spots here and there, most noticeably on the white of the unicorn and the garter. I can’t see any little bugs, so that’s good. The frame, which was redone in 1963 (the date 14/02/63 is written on the reverse, along with the name of a former owner) is in sound condition, if not original. The glass is the antiglare variety… it may be you decide to remove this from its frame or reframe it completely. If not, the current frame is perfectly serviceable, even after 54 years, although there are a couple of scuffs and some minor marks. I can remove this from the frame before posting upon request. 

Including the frame, the needlework measures 51cm x 43cm.

Please look at the photographs carefully to get an accurate idea of the condition of this piece and if you have any questions whatsoever, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Delivery Terms

Items are usually dispatched next working day by 48 hour courier. UK delivery only. Please contact me if you have any special delivery instructions.

Please note the following locations may incur a surcharge, so please contact us before buying if your delivery address is in one of these areas:

Scottish Islands: HS1-HS9, IV41, IV55-IV56, KW15-KW17, KA27-KA28, PA20, PA41-PA49, PA60-PA78, PH42-PH44, ZW1-ZE3 Scottish Highlands: KW1-KW14, IV1-IV40, IV52-IV54, IV63, PA21-PA38, PA80, PH16-PH26, PH30-PH41, PH49-PH50 Channel Islands: All postcodes containing GY and JE Scilly Isles: TR21-TR25 Isle of Wight: PO30-PO41 Isle of Man: All postcodes containing IM Northern Ireland inc Dublin, Co. Meath, Louth and Cavan

Alternatively, you are very welcome to collect your item from Hamble, SO31 or to arrange your own courier.  Please note that if you arrange your own courier, I am unable to pack goods.

Thanks for looking!

  • Type/ Features: Stumpwork, Embroidery
  • Style/ Origin: Victorian
  • Material: Silk
  • Product: Framed Items

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