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Elizabethan garb, textiles, jewelry, paintings and interior at the V&A
(Victoria & Albert museum), London
Smock embroidered with blackwork
c. 1575-85
Linen embroidered with silk in black, stem and darning stitches with buttonhole filling
Embroidered in England, the silk thread probably from Spain.
Smock embroidered with redwork
Woman's jacket, c. 1600-1625
Ivory silk and linen with a silver stripe, made in England
Knitted jacket, c. 1625-1650
Hand-knitted in silk and silver gilt wrapped silk, lined with linen. Made in London or
imported from Italy.
Although this jacket is made from expensive materials, it was a very informal style of garment.
Knitted jackets seem to have been produced at workshops, being knitted in rectangles and sold in
sets, to be sewn up at home.
Elizabeth Luton's embroidered jacket
This jacket's pattern is given in Janet Arnold's "Patterns of Fashion"; actually, I based
my own version of that jacket on this pattern.
It's one of the rare examples where the garment has survived together with a painting that actually
shows the garment.
I've tried to document the embroideries from all possible angles (which wasn't too easy as the back
of the jacket is standing before a wall...), so that someone who would be willing to actually
imitate the exact embroidery could do so.
For myself I will also probably make a reproduction, and therefore will pass the embroidery through
the software for my embroidery machine in order to create an almost perfect, even if machine made
embroidery copy.
Embroidered red cloak, c. 1580-1600
Red satin, couched and embroidered with silver, silver-gilt and colored silk threads,
trimmed with silver gilt and silk thread fringe and tassel, lined with pink linen, now faded
If you look carefully at the lining, which I also tried to photograph, you can almost perfectly see
the direction of warp and weft threads of the lining, giving an indication how this cloak was cut.
Man's white doublet, c. 1635-1640
Glazed linen embroidered with linen thread, made in England
I know that this almost looks as if there was lace used as an overlay for the linen, but it's in
fact embroidered...
Pinked and embossed doublet and breeches, c. 1630-1640
Satin, stamped and slashed, trimmed with silk braid and silk ribbon. Five motifs have been
stamped into the satin in a process similar to leather bookbinding.
Glove, c. 1590-1610
White leather with gauntlet tapestry woven in silk and gold, 33 warp threads per inch.
Possibly made at the Sheldon tapestry workshop at Barcheston, Warwickshire
Pair of mittens, c. 1600
Embroidered in England, said to have been a gift from Elizabeth I to her maid of honor,
Margaret Edgcumbe (1560-1648).
Crimson velvet, white satin, embroidered with silver gilt thread, colored silks, beads, and
spangles.
Cope, made for Henry VII's household
A cope was a semi-circular cloak worn by a priest during church ceremonies. Henry VII
(1457-1509) left this cope to Westminster Abbey where he had built his own burial chapel.
Cloth of gold velvet made in Florencee, Italy; orphreys and hood embroidered in England and possibly
added in the 17th century.
Woman's coif (cap), c. 1600-1625
Linen, silk and silver gilt thread, made in England
The last picture shows the inside of the cap on the transparent plastic stand it's mounted on.
Man's nightcap, ca. 1600-1624
Despite their name, such caps were worn during the day at home, and although they do appear
in portraits, they were never worn in public.
Linen, colored silk and silver gilt thread with silver gilt bobbin lace and spangles
Embroidered handkerchief, c. 1600-1630
Linen embroidered with silks, bordered with bobbin lace worked in silver and silver gilt
thread. Made in England.
Jewelry
The Hunsdon Jewels
Bracelet, probably 1500-1600
The inventory of Elizabeth I's jewels in 1587 describes a rock crystal bracelet, set with "sparcks
of rubies, and little sparcks of saphiers." This bracelet, which may be the one described, is an
outstandingly rare object today. No other Indian bracelets like it have survived from that period.
Girdle book, c. 1553
Enameled gold with a shell cameo containing in manuscript the deathbed prayer of Edward VI
(died 1553)
Onyx Cameo, 1580-1590
Cameo carved probably in Milan, Italy
Ship pendant, c. 1580
Paintings - Miniatures by Nicholas Hilliard and others
Elizabeth I, miniature by Nicholas Hilliard
Elizabeth I, miniature by Nicholas Hilliard
Textiles & Embroideries
Lover's ribbon, c. 1600
Satin embroidered with silk and couched cord
Embroidery known as the "Shepheard Buss", 1570-1600
Linen, embroidered in silk with bobbin lace border
This hanging or cover shows an elizabethan sheperd mourning his lost lover.
Various textiles and embroideries
Door, Antwerp, 1580
Attributed to Hans Vredeman de Vries. Oak with marquetry of various woods, inscribed "CHRISTYUS
OGHE DORSIENT AL" (The eyes of Christ see all).
Virginals with the devices of Elizabeth I., c. 1570-80
Several sources mention that Elizabeth was an excellent keyboard player and it is possible
that she played on this very instrument. It was probably made by Benedictus Florianus in Venice,
Italy.
Pistol, powder flask and musket, c. 1580-88
Wood inlaid with staghorn
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