The Burrell Collection - Day 3, Part 2

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

The Burrell Collection

As I said, we might spend a few posts on the lovelies at the Burrell Collection!  Here I am excited to show two caskets where the pattern for the cabinet panels was exactly the same - sort of like the last post where there were two caskets, one unfinished, with the same design.  But in that case, the embroidery was being executed the same way.  In this case, one casket is in 'high' stumpwork and the other is satin stitched with a satin stitch filled background.  

The Burrell Collection 

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

It is fascinating because you can really see how the choice of treatment changes the look of a piece so radically.  It will take you a few minutes to stare at the stumpwork one to realize that it is the same... but it is.

The Burrell Collection 

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

So the underdrawing was the same, but the cabinet maker may have been different.  The satin stitch one seem to have either modification in a later period or a very different maker of the box.  Perhaps the entire embroidery was put onto a form much later after its embroidery was finished.  Nothing conclusive yet.

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

The Burrell Collection

Here on the side under the unicorn, there is a lower frieze that is different with a dog and running hare which was replaced by a set of spots including a squirrel.

The Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

If you look at the back panel closely, you will notice just a few changes to it, like the addition of a few diminutional acorns to the tree as well as the flower on the far left is covered with a grotto in the stumpwork version. 

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

The Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection

The Burrell Collection - Acc No. 29/169

The remaining panels, being the left and right sides are not the same.  But that makes only three out of the 18 panels are different.  So some customization for the stitcher but otherwise something that the draftsman was comfortable with.   Isn't it interesting that the ground fabric was different as well!  The stumpwork piece was on satin and the other on a course linen ground.

Hope you enjoyed this!  This is the type of thing found in the Cabinet of Curiosities course, if you are wondering.