Portiere
Margaret Beale (1847 - 1936)
Category
Textiles
Date
1896
Materials
Silk, Linen
Measurements
1830 mm (W)2300 mm (Length)
Order this imageCollection
Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1214945.1
Caption
Embroidered by Mrs Beale and her three eldest daughters Amy, Margaret 'Maggie' and Dorothy, these were originally used as hangings in the Drawing Room, then as bedspreads. If you look carefully you can see the difference in ability of the embroiderers. The backing fabric would have been bought from Morris & Co. with the design ready printed onto the fabric, and the Firm would have provided the silks used as well.
Summary
One of a pair of silk embroidered hangings or portieres (originally used as hangings on either side of the Drawing Room fireplace, and latterly as bedspreads). They are worked in graded shades of pink, gold, blue, brown, green and orange on cream linen in a floral and foliate design by William Morris. They are lined and edged with a narrow shaded-blue silk fringe. Embroidered by Mrs Margaret Beale and her three daughters.
Makers and roles
Margaret Beale (1847 - 1936), embroiderer Amy Elizabeth Beale (1871 - 1934), embroiderer Margaret Sarah 'Maggie' Beale (1872 - 1947), embroiderer Dorothy Beale (1879 - 1969), embroiderer