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| DOROTHY WARD 1691 |
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Recently a well known Auctioneer was entrusted to sell a book of lace, and samplers by Dorothy Ward, one dated 1691 the others a band sampler and spot sampler, were unnamed. The auctioneer deciding to remove these, and sell them as separate lots !.
Firstly the DW sampler was described as a rare 17th century double sided sampler, when in fact it was just folded over and stitched together to fit in the said book. Now the Spot & Band sampler got away but we did manage to buy The main sampler and book. Sop what did we get...
The sampler by Dorothy Ward, 1691, is embroidered with various religious psalm's in a variety of colours, a section including her name and the date, and also with birds, numbers and other motifs is exceptional .
The book contains nearly 200 examples of late 17th - early 18th century Lace, a number of early 18th century whitework embroidered panels , 2 Lace sweet bags, 4 Bible bookmarks by Dorothy Ward as well as other trimmings and examples of work..
Now its history The book made by and put together by DW over the the period of 1691 (possibly 1686) to the 1730's, was given to Mrs. Paulleine wife of James Paulleine , cousin of Timothy Huttonal Marske who purchased Clifton Castle in 1735 and rebuilt it in the Grecian style in 1802. (An incredible house). It then passed to the owners of Horton Hall, Bradford Yrks. who apparently lent it to the 1868 Leeds Art Exhibition (although it does not appear in the cat.). This owner added more needlework.
So who was Dorothy Ward, clearly a very talented needlewoman, the time span of the needlework would sagest a professional. In fact the UK register of Duties paid for apprentices indentures has on the 14.7.1731 has a Dorothy Ward of Warwick, a Mantra Maker (a maker of woman's loose gowns of a kind fashionable during the 17th / 18th Century). her apprentice being Mary daughter of Richard Wilkinson. We propose that this is our Dorothy and that the colour backing of the lace may represent different sources for the lace. One must remember that Nottingham is not that far away and the first Lace Schools were set up their in the 17th century, although not "Schools" more workhouses for the making of Lace, "a product of the Poor for the Rich" as it is known.
The paper that makes up the book is watermarked for BN with the Stuart Royal Coast of Arms, Lion & Unicorn either side of the central panel containing only the Three Lions / Leopards so must be pre 1707.
Hoping to find out more in time....
On a footnote we propose that The Dorothy Ward band sampler of 1687 in the Ashmolean museum Oxford, formerly in the Feller Collection is also by our girl. |
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