Embroideress, Queen Mary Psalter

Illumination from the Queen Mary Psalter, early 14th century, showing the story of Gideon (Jerubbaal), with to the left a woman working her embroidery on a frame. Illumination from the Queen Mary Psalter, early 14th century, showing the story of Gideon (Jerubbaal), with to the left a woman working her embroidery on a frame. Copyright British Library, London, acc. no. MS Royal 2B VII f. 37v).

Queen Mary Psalter, now housed in the British Library, London, is named after the English Queen Mary, who obtained the Psalter in 1553. The Psalter contains many illuminations, one of which (MS Royal 2B VII f. 37v) shows, to the left, a woman working her embroidery on a rectangular frame. The drawing refers to the Biblical story of Gideon (Jerubbaal). The drawing, and the full manuscript, date to c. 1310-1320.

The woman seems to be working on an outline of a pattern that is based upon three large connecting diamonds.

British Library online catalogue (retrieved 31 January 2017).

WV

Last modified on Wednesday, 01 March 2017 15:08
Published in Medieval
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