Newbery Cushion Cover

Cushion cover designed and embroidered by Jessie Newbery, c. 1900. Cushion cover designed and embroidered by Jessie Newbery, c. 1900. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.69-1953.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has a cushion cover in its collection that was designed and worked by the Scottish embroiderer, Jessie Newbery (1864-1948). The cushion cover is regarded by the museum as a characteristic piece of work by Newbery, which is worked in the style of the Glasgow School of Embroidery.

The cushion cover has a linen ground and is decorated with a stylised floral and leaf motif, which surrounds a central Latin text: SENSIM SED PROPERE FLUIT IRREMEABILIS HORA: CONSULE NE PERDAS ABS QUE LABORE DIEM (“Gradually but relentlessly flows time, from which there is no going back; take care that you do not lose the day without work”).

The embroidery is worked in satin stitch using silk thread, while the flowers and leaves are in linen appliqué.

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 6 April 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Monday, 03 October 2016 18:06