Page 75 - Homes & Antiques (February 2020)

MATERIAL MATTERS Silk

the appeal. We sell good ones for this for almost 50 years, we have had
around £1,100-£1,500.’ some fabulous pieces,’ says Stephen.
In America, a#er the death of ‘The interesting ones are those that
President George Washington, involve a lot of research, such as the
memorial embroideries became wonderful picture of Lafaye!e, his
extremely fashionable and now son and members of the Washington
provide an interesting sub-genre for family visiting the tomb of George
collectors to explore. They o#en and Martha Washington when he
featured grieving relatives standing made his historic visit to America in
forlornly beside a monument 1824 (below).’
inscribed with the names of deceased With such a!ention to detail
loved ones, with symbolic weeping and impressively immaculate
willows in the background. needlework, it’s easy to forget that
‘Sometimes young ladies stitched the majority of these pieces were
these, even though they had no one to stitched by young schoolgirls. They
memorialise, and le# the tomb provided a creative outlet for a
inscription blank to be $lled in later,’ section of society who rarely had a
reveals Stephen. ‘With so many voice. Yet, on closer inspection, the Where to buy
designs and styles to choose from, it’s passion, creativity and energy that
hard to select favourites, but some exudes from the gleaming silks MADELENA
extra-special embroideries stick in clearly re"ects the optimism and 01245 425045; madelena.com
the memory. Having been involved in vigour of youth.
STEPHEN &
CAROL HUBER
Major General Lafayette antiquesamplers.com
visiting George and Martha
Washington’s tomb, now sold, FARNHAM
Stephen & Carol Huber. ANTIQUE CARPETS

01252 851215;
farnhamantiquecarpets.com

JOANNA BOOTH
joannabooth.co.uk

JULIA BOSTON ANTIQUES
020 7610 6783;
juliaboston.com

Early 18th-century
Italian open armchair,
£1,800, Julia Boston
Antiques. ABOVE
Antique miniature
sampler, 1795,
£900, Madelena.

Where to visit

WHITCHURCH VICTORIA AND ALBERT THE BRITISH
SILK MILL MUSEUM MUSEUM
28 Winchester Street, Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, Great Russell Street,
Whitchurch, RG28 7AL. London, SW7 2RL. London, WC1B 3DG.
01256 892065; 020 7942 2000; 020 7323 8000;
whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk vam.ac.uk britishmuseum.org

February 2020 Homes & Antiques 75