Door curtain
Category
Textiles
Date
1720
Materials
Cotton, Silk
Measurements
1470 x 1910 mm
Order this imageCollection
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
NT 548703
Summary
Silk brocade portiere or door curtain, embroidered with stylized foliate designs with gilt details. Inscribed - Portiere 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 20, note Mr Thorn-ton of V and A Dec. 2/66 1720s European not … (label) 1720 (circa) Circa 1720 Silk brocade, metal thread, linen 1983mm (L); 1373mm (W) Silk brocade with silver metal thread; a ribbed weave ground supplemented with silver and green thread and trimmed with silver metal lace. Lined with various pieces of undyed plain weave linen. Made in many sections pieced together to make a bigger piece of fabric, the fineness of the material was initially thought to suggest that this piece may have been repurposed from dress fabric as a ‘portiere’ or door curtain. However, further research suggests that it may have been originally produced as a bed hanging. This piece is trimmed on four sides with intricate silver metal lace which has now degraded. The word ‘orris’, another term for gold or silver lace, derives from the place name ‘Arras’ in France which was renowned in the 18th century for metal lacemaking.
Full description
Silk brocade portiere or door curtain, embroidered with stylized foliate designs with gilt details. Inscribed - Portiere 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 20, note Mr Thorn-ton of V and A Dec. 2/66 1720s European not … (label) 1720 (circa) Circa 1720 Silk brocade, metal thread, linen 1983mm (L); 1373mm (W) Silk brocade with silver metal thread; a ribbed weave ground supplemented with silver and green thread and trimmed with silver metal lace. Lined with various pieces of undyed plain weave linen. Made in many sections pieced together to make a bigger piece of fabric, the fineness of the material was initially thought to suggest that this piece may have been repurposed from dress fabric as a ‘portiere’ or door curtain. However, further research suggests that it may have been originally produced as a bed hanging. This piece is trimmed on four sides with intricate silver metal lace which has now degraded. The word ‘orris’, another term for gold or silver lace, derives from the place name ‘Arras’ in France which was renowned in the 18th century for metal lacemaking.
Provenance
An item from the Pamela Ward collection, left to the National Trust in the will of Miss Ward in 1994
Marks and inscriptions
Portiere 6 1/2 x 4 1/2 20, note Mr Thorn-ton of V and A Dec. 2/66 1720s European not... (label)