OK, it is a temporary exchange of treasures - the French are getting the Lewis Chessmen and some of the Sutton Hoo hoard. In the 1000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror, this 70 metre length of embroidery [it is not tapestry work, by the way!] is coming back to the land of its creation.
We asked to borrow it in 1953 [Coronation of Elizabeth II] and 1966 [900 years after the battle] and quondam Culture Secretary Matt Hancock* assured us in 2018 that it would be coming in 2022. [huh!]
But now there is a definite date, and it will be on display in the British Museum. Oh how I long to go and see it... I have dreamed of seeing this for more than 55 years, ever since I laboriously copied a portion onto a bit of sheeting for a school project on mediaeval needlework. [I finally saw my other favourite French stitching, the Lady and The Unicorn, last year in Paris]
I am clearly not alone in this longing, poet Bryan Bilston has written a little ode, which I plan to print out and stick on the fridge...
Tapestry of Dreams
for sew long how I did yearn to visit you in Bayeux
but with the conquest of the years my hair is getting greyeux
for Time will wait for Norman
-that's one in the eye for me
yet hope hangs by a silver thread,
I now hear you'll cross the sea
oh, I'm on pins and needles
I've been waiting since my youth
no stitch-up or false-spun yarn
it's the unembroidered truth
Brian Bilston
Will you be going to see it do you think? * I have always wanted to use the word quondam in a post. I am not at all fond of MH, so am pleased to have found an appropriate adjective for him at last.
On our first morning in Paris, we both wanted to go to Notre Dame. It was an easy journey on the Metro, and a brief walk from the station to the Cathedral. But on the way we stopped at the flower market. This beautiful little trading street has been here for over 150 years, the painting dates from 1880.[by Victor Gabriel Gilbert, famous for his Parisian scenes] But just ten years ago, when our late Queen was visiting France for the 70th D-Day Anniversary, the flower market was renamed. In honour of the esteem in which the French nation held her, the market became "Queen Elizabeth ll Flower Market. Here she is in June 2014 with Francoise Hollande.
On a sunny Thursday morning the sights were stunning, the perfume amazing. And the quality and colours of the blooms exquisite. We wandered slowly through, marvelling at the foliage and flowers. And 19thC light fixtures and fountains added to the beauty.
At the very end was a little shop selling tiny hanging decorations. Not all specifically Christmassy - but all delicately made, with wood, metal, beads and fabric. I was particularly taken with the little felt animals.
I sketched some in my journal. I quite fancy the idea of making some little mice! It makes a change from birds.
I came back to Norfolk, and on Friday afternoon, I found this inspiring book in Dereham Library. A project for the autumn perhaps?
The Start Rite company of Norwich claims to be the oldest shoemakers' company in Britain - founded in 1792. In 1955, they received the Queen's Royal Warrant, having supplied shoes for Prince Charles and Princess Ann. A second Royal Warrant came in 1989 from Prince Charles - Princes William and Harry had StartRite footwear too. Altho the warrants were withdrawn in 2003 when production moved overseas - although Prince George was wearing SR shoes in the official photograph for Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday.
As a child I remember the distinctive advertisements showing two children walking hand in hand. I always wanted a pair of my own [too expensive, my Mum said!] But I thought of the ad again this week, when Steph sent me a lovely picture of the boys walking into nursery together
Update: I sent this to StartRite Customer Services and had a lovely, prompt email in reply saying they rarely got such nice messages, and it was much appreciated
The Coronation Ceremony includes a very special moment when the Monarch is anointed as a servant of God. This is a special rite which is both sacred and personal - therefore a screen is placed around the King or Queen for a few minutes. In 1953, Elizabeth was anointed under the canopy made for her great-grandfather, half a century before.
A new screen was designed and created for King Charles.
Designed by Aidan Hart, and construction organised by Nick Gutfreund, this is a beautiful piece of embroidery full of symbolism.
The central motif is a tree, using the text from Revelation 22 about the tree of life, and "the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" The central trunk and branches are machine stitched, but the 56 leaves were individually handstitched, by workers from the royal School of Needlework and also embroiderers in Australia. The woollen cloth came from Australia and New Zealand.
Here are all the Commonwealth nations - Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and all the rest, and of course, the United Kingdom.
The four support posts are turned from a windblown oak in Windsor Great Park. Two Bronze Eagles, symbolising the Divine are atop the front posts. Above the tree fly angels, and a dove representing the Holy Spirit.
At the base of the tree is the Royal Cypher and below that a banner with the words
All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well
As you can guess, I was pleased to see something from Norfolk so prominent in the ceremony. It is J's 650th anniversary this year.
It took four months to complete the screen, with all its intricate detail- the two side panels are of much simpler design in red, blue and gold.
There's a helpful YouTube piece here explaining it all
I really did want to say somyething about all the stitching that went into the day. Do check out "Fit for A King" on BBC i-Player if you can, to find out about the making of the uniforms. But this will probably be my last post about the coronation.
What a day...I am still in awe of the way Penny Mordaunt held that heavy sword aloft for an hour without flinching or wobbling, and the way the drummers steered their horses with their feet.
Thank you for all the comments yesterday about the poem - so often all these details of an event get overlooked, and it did sum things up so effectively.
I think my word of the year collaboration has definitely been in evidence over the past week or so!
UPDATE as Sandra has mentioned them below, I've added a picture of the Queen's dress, showing Beth and Bluebell, her rescue dogs
I had envisaged a 'domestic' weekend- a bit of tidying up, some work on the cross stitch, and finishing off my latest bear on the Saturday. Then Sunday, people were coming to 'church' here at the beautifully redecorated Cornerstones [can't use the chapel for two weeks due to major electrical work, so we are worshipping in homes] I'd booked the two of us in for lunch at the pub - I thought the smell of Sunday lunch cooking might be a distraction for the worshippers! And I'd thought I'd just chill out in the afternoon...But the best laid plans etc...
Friday evening, Bob had a genius idea "Shall we go and see the snowdrops at Oxburgh Hall?" I had been reminiscing about our trips to Kingston Lacy back in Dorset. The KL bulbs I have planted here have only yielded one tiny flower this spring. So we packed coffee flasks and set off early on Saturday morning
It was lovely - and most of the house is open again following all the reroofing, and treatment of the death watch beetles etc.
There were quite a few visitors, including these jolly Red Hat Ladies from Bury St Edmunds.
I bought a little pot of snowdrops to plant near my other one.
The Mary, Queen of Scots embroideries are back on display, and the volunteer guide was incredibly knowledgeable - I learned a lot more about them. And the snowdrops were splendid.
Then we set off for home down the country roads towards Watton. We had a delightful light lunch in The Olde Windmill and got home early afternoon.
I began to plan out what to do next [tidying up, drawing out my cross stitch pattern etc] Then my phone pinged - Rosie and co were making an unexpected lightning trip to Norfolk, were we in?
Tea and cake is waiting! I replied [I'd been given a large bag of black bananas on Friday and made a couple of cakes - one to eat, one to freeze]
It was lovely - Rosie politely asked for a sleepover and we said 'yes, if your Dad collects you before our church visitors arrive' . That was agreed, and we managed to get the family added onto our Sunday lunch reservation too.
The sleepover was fun
"Church" went well
Pub lunch was excellent [thank you, all at The Angel]
And then it was all quiet again as the family drove away
Many of the 'domestic tasks' remain undone - but who cares?
This is the title of an exhibition currently on display at Norwich Castle. It is work by the Singh Twins of Liverpool, and came to Norwich from the Walker Art Gallery there. I went a fortnight ago and found it fascinating. The information sheet says This exhibition by the Singh Twins explores hidden
narratives of Empire, Colonialism, conflict, slavery and luxury lifestyle
through the lens of India's historical textile trade and their relevance to
modern day legacies and debates around ethical consumerism, racism and the
politics of trade. [But please note that The Singh Twins: Slaves of Fashion contains
imagery and language which reflects historic colonial attitudes. Due to the
nature of the exhibition, there is some historic racist, xenophobic and otherwise
offensive content, as well as contemporary depictions of torture and violence.] It is mindblowing, in the brilliant use of art and technology, challenging and thought provoking as it shows how the Indian textile trade has, for centuries, been affected by colonialism and consumerism. And we are told not only of historical injustices, but more contemporary issues, where the livelihoods of ordinary people are affected by the greed, and demand for fast fashion across the world. The sisters produced huge paintings, with 'fabric' themes - cotton, calico, muslin, chintz. indigo etc These artworks have incredible detail- historic characters, social problems, the demands of the fashion industry, the greed of the rich... The colour, and the situations portrayed took my breath away. I took some photos, and talked at length with the knowledgeable Museum staff. We so easily take fabric for granted - and I say that as someone who loves the textures, and colours, and styles. Here are just some of my pictures. Do look at the brief video at the end of this post - and if you have the opportunity to see this exhibition I would recommend it.
Evidence of Indian textile manufacture goes back to ancient times - according to folklore, Queen Hatshepsut sent cargo ships to Kerala
Cotton cloth was unknown in Europe in the 14th Century - but Sir John Mandeville, a renowned traveller, believed this amazing cloth was produced by lambs who grew on trees!.
Queen Isabella of Castille sent Columbus off in 1492 to the East Indies, she wanted the fabled silks and embroidered silks. Instead he found the Americas - but that brought much gold to Spain, which she used to buy these opulent fabrics.
Indigo Blue - a rich deep shade, with colour fast properties. The figure here is Mumtaz Mahal - whose husband built her memorial temple in Agra [ a centre for indigo production] She is wearing denim jeans- challenging the idea that indigo represents 20thC western values. Its origins are from 16thC India. This dye was once known as 'blue gold' Details on this panel show Nelson and Napoleon fighting over India, and [bottom right] an X-ray of the lungs of a young 20thC textile worker- destroyed because he worked sandblasting jeans without PPE
In 1600, Elizabeth I gave the East India Company a Royal Charter. This started out as trade, but ended in conquest. The main character is Calico Jack, a pirate known for his bright waistcoats. the magpie on his shoulder shows theft, the morning glory flowers are symbols of deceit. At the bottom left we see a British silk weaver beating a woman for wearing imported calico. The weavers feared for their livelihoods - in 1701 the Calico Act banned the import of printed cotton cloth from India, in order to protect the British textile industry.
Kashmir in India was famed for fine shawls, made from the wool of mountain goats [cashmere, and pashmina] From 1770 on these became a status symbol for European women. It took a weaver over a year to make one shawl.
European factories and mass production made them cheaper, it was possible for more women to wear them. This is a Russian woman, wearing a shawl inspired by the Indian ones. The red Norwich shawls were similarly developed.
This woman has a phulkari draped over her arm.This word means flower work, and describes a particular style of embroidery from the Punjab in Northern India. Girls often made one as part of their dowry. These became popular in Britain in Victorian times, draped as home furnishings. Demand for cheaper versions led to mass production. The Kiku Movement, a resistance group, promoted home-spun cloth as a way of undermining British Rule - many of the group were executed, The artwork shows also the partition of the Punjab in 1947
Until the 18thC, India produced finished cloth for export - but in the 19thC, raw cotton was shipped to the UK, where the textile mills of the North West became the textile hub of the Empire. Along the bottom of this panel are pictures of the Manchester Mills and city architecture, and a poor little mill girl, barefoot, and clutching her shawl - there were slaves here too - with no proper representation. See also Mahatma Gandhi [middle left] wearing his homespun loincloth
At the top of this picture are printed many words which have come into our language from the people ofIndia -
We cannot undo the past - but we can learn from it, acknowledge the damage done by previous generations, and do all we can to work for fairtrade, justice for workers, proper compensation after injury or loss, and efforts to ensure sustainable production methods.
It is wrong that people [whether in Leicester or or Lahore] are working in appalling conditions, for minimal pay, to produce cheap, fast fashion.
This exhibition thrilled me, challenged me, and has made me think about my relationship to fabric. See what others have said...
Preacher, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, craftswoman. Married to wonderful Pastor Bob since 1979, now happily retired to Norfolk, but still busy. I am blessed with two brilliant grown-up daughters and four wonderful grand children
