Watercolour, of embroidered armchair for the Duke of Westminster
Date
1874-1910
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
187 mm x 255 mm
Creator
Scope and content
Watercolour drawing of a chair, with the coats of arms of the Duke of Westminster motto 'Virtus non stemma', stamped 'Painting Room'.
Red velvet embroidered chair design, watercolour on paper. The design is in an illustrative format often used to show work to potential clients or record special commissions in the early part of the twentieth century by the Royal School of Art Needlework (later Royal School of Needlework).
Grosvenor rebuilt his family seat Eaton Hall in Cheshire with work by Albert Waterhouse (Manchester Town Hall and Natural History Museum) finishing in 1881, the RSN had worked (to HRH Princess Louise's designs) on the curtains for Manchester Town hall, designed by Waterhouse in the 1870s. We know that the Royal School of Art Needlework also worked a number of panels for the redecoration of Eton Hall which were designed by Gertrude Jekyll between 1875 and 1880, one panel is now in the National Museum of Northern Ireland (https://collections.nationalmuseumsni.org/object-belum-t2024-3-11). These chairs may have been related to that commission or have been part of a later one.
As well as the motto of the Duke of Westminster ‘Virtus non Stemma’, the design shows a crowned wheat sheaf, Tudor roses and a ‘W’ monograph. The design is likely to have been worked on red velvet with silk embroidery similar to the throne chairs also embroidered by the RSN for the coronation of George VI (see Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2604)
Red velvet embroidered chair design, watercolour on paper. The design is in an illustrative format often used to show work to potential clients or record special commissions in the early part of the twentieth century by the Royal School of Art Needlework (later Royal School of Needlework).
Grosvenor rebuilt his family seat Eaton Hall in Cheshire with work by Albert Waterhouse (Manchester Town Hall and Natural History Museum) finishing in 1881, the RSN had worked (to HRH Princess Louise's designs) on the curtains for Manchester Town hall, designed by Waterhouse in the 1870s. We know that the Royal School of Art Needlework also worked a number of panels for the redecoration of Eton Hall which were designed by Gertrude Jekyll between 1875 and 1880, one panel is now in the National Museum of Northern Ireland (https://collections.nationalmuseumsni.org/object-belum-t2024-3-11). These chairs may have been related to that commission or have been part of a later one.
As well as the motto of the Duke of Westminster ‘Virtus non Stemma’, the design shows a crowned wheat sheaf, Tudor roses and a ‘W’ monograph. The design is likely to have been worked on red velvet with silk embroidery similar to the throne chairs also embroidered by the RSN for the coronation of George VI (see Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2604)
Transcription
"Painting Room' "Virtus non Stemma'
Reference code
D4/28
© Royal School of Needlework