Sofa
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1730
Materials
Embroidered linen, walnut, beech rails
Measurements
107 x 144 x 64 cm
Place of origin
England
Collection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276604.1
Summary
A sofa, one of a pair, part of a set of seat furniture, English, circa 1730, comprising two sofas and eight chairs, with padded back and seat upholstered in contemporary petit and gros needlework, depicting the 15th century combat of John Astley 'The Combate in Smithfeild Betwixt Sir John Astley and Sir Philip Boyle 30 Jan Ann Dom 1441' with fixed fine (8 stitches per cm) canvas work covers, linen canvas embroidered in coloured wool and silk yarns. The centre of the back and the seat have a pictoral scene surrounded by entwined flowers on a brown silk ground. Two knights in armour are sword fighting watched by the King seated on a throne and flanked by female courtiers seated under canopies. In the foreground the knights are watched by standing male courtiers and mounted trumpeters, the central male figure wears a tabard with a coat of arms.