Dear Su and others with interest in Royal connections to needlework, The "Slough of Despond" seems to refer to the years in which Queens Adelaide and Victoria were prominent. >From a related perspective, there are posed portraits of Queen Victoria knitting, crocheting, spinning, etc., so she took to heart some appreciation of needlework. As a child, she made clothing for at least 27 dolls out of a collection of 132, and was taught embroidery, knitting and crochet by her governess, per Royal scholar Kay Staniland. Very recently, I came across a needleworked Portfolio made by Queen Adelaide (1792-1849) of England in 1835. This in the Spring 2008 catalog (number 33) of "Samplings: A selected offering of antique samplers and needlework", offered by the antiques dealer M. Finkel & Daughter, Philadelphia. Went to their website today: _www.samplings.com_ (http://www.samplings.com) , but it was not shown. However, under "Past Sales" there is a wonderful 1662 sampler that has cutwork and needlelace that some might like to view. It is the last item on the lower right, and if you click on it you can read the research and see an enlarged image. Now, here is what is in the catalog about Queen Adelaide's Portfolio cover: "Historically, one of the ways in which members of the royal families supported their charities was to donate works by their own hands, to be exhibited and then sold at auction; the proceeds would be quite considerable and could make a significant difference for the charity in need. Watercolors, paintings and needleworks are known to have been contributed to various causes by monarchs throughout history...." The portfolio was made for and donated to the Hyde Bazaar, which raised money for the Hyde National School Building Fund in 1835. The portfolio cover size was 12" x 20 1/4" and has been opened so the embroidered front and back can both be seen. It has been has been mounted in a 19th C. gold leaf frame. The design reminds of Berlin work. Not mentioned, but clearly apparent is the fact that two motifs have been carefully cut out by someone who obviously did not care about defacing it! Still, the price quoted in 2008 was $7,800. A interpretation of Berlin work seems quite logical for Queen Adelaide (German by birth). It was a form of embroidery introduced in Germany in the early 1800's. I Googled in a variety of ways to try to find a picture. Did not. But by searching "Needlework by Queen Adelaide of England" I found an interesting reproduction of a book/article by William Tait, dated 1840, on this subject. Jeri Ames Lace and Embroidery Resource Center --------------------------------------- In a message dated 6/6/2008 4:15:50 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Although good Queen Adelaide had a pretty fancy for lace, she wore little of it, and it was left to Queen Victoria to revive the glory of wearing Brussels to any extent; and she, alas! was sufficiently patriotic to encourage home-made products by wearing almost exclusively Honiton, which I personally am not good Englishwoman enough to admire except at its latest stage (just the past few years), when lace-making, as almost every other art work in this country, is emerging from what, from an artistic point of view, has been one long Slough of Despond. Chats on Old Lace and Needlework, by Emily Leigh Lowes, 1908 **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
