patterns by the needle, and she had many 'cushions,' movable articles of furniture of various shapes, answering to our large family of tabourets and ottomans, embroidered with gold and silver thread."[1]
Prince Otto of Hessen in 1611 made notes of many of the beautiful curios of the Virgin Queen and her successor, and among them he names several pieces of tapestry, some of which have now disappeared. Many of them were probably sold, all were certainly valued in 1649. The list of "goods viewed and appraised at Hampton Court in the custody of William Smithsbie, Esq., wardrobe-keeper, October 5th, 1649," is in the British Museum.[2]
Some of the hangings were purchased by Mazarin,[3] but most of the furniture and tapestries passed into the possession of Cromwell, and much was brought back or recovered at the Restoration.[4] Evelyn, as well as Mandeslo and other travellers, mentions the tapestries with admiration during Charles II.'s reign. Other pieces are mentioned as existing under William III. The latest addition to the tapestries was made in George I.'s reign. Seven pieces now hang in the Queen's Gallery. These are from designs of Charles le Brun, and represent scenes from the life of
- ↑ The Countess of Wilton's "Art of Needlework,"p. 292. This was published in 1846. We may thankfully welcome the disappearance of the "tabouret" and the exile of the "ottoman," relics of the "early Victorian period."
- ↑ Harleian MSS. 4898, f. 238.
- ↑ Cf. Pyne's "Royal Residences," p. 71.
- ↑ The "Inventory of Cromwell's Goods" is printed entire by Mr. Law in an appendix to his "History of Hampton Court," vol. ii.
