Unusual Artifacts: An Appliquéd Cover or Wall-Hanging, 1856-69

Cover Or Wall-Hanging
1856-1869
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This object is unusual for the simple fact that it’s so mysterious. What it is and where it came from are unknown. However, it’s an excellent example of the domestic arts enjoyed by young ladies of a certain class in the mid Nineteenth Century. Called a quilt, a cover, or a wall-hanging, this item consists of sixty-one panels. The Royal Coat of Arms stands proudly in the center, surrounded by figures symbolizing the four continents in each corner. The other panels include scenes from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, scenes of the four evangelists, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, celebrated military figures, as well as popular celebrities of the day and scenes from theatrical productions, each identified by a neatly embroidered caption.


It’s an extremely well-made creation and indicative of the skill of Nineteenth Century ladies. This is the equivalent to a blog or a fan Web site, only with more charm and skill.