Made to fit: reinstating a set of tapestries and painted panels into the Audley End Tapestry Room
Resource type
Book chapter
Creator (person)
Harper, Michelle
Thompson, Karen
Date published
January 1, 2006
Abstract
The Tapestry Dressing Room was demolished in 1825 to create the present library. Following this, the tapestries were rehung (in 1836) in the ground floor Tapestry Room adjoining the Great Hall. One of the tapestry panels in the set was cut to fit across existing cupboard doors and a large section of tapestry was cut out to fit around a door case in order to fit into the new room setting. It is possible that further painted panels were added at this time as thestyle and quality of painting varies. The tapestries and linen panels remained on display until 1978 (Figure 26.1), when the room was restored as an Ante Room to Robert Adam’s Dining Parlour by English Heritage. They were then put into storage. When the hangings were examined prior to conservation, tapestry fragments and painted linen borders were found with them. It was not clear at this stage how the pieces fitted together, but there was evidence that the fragments may have been joined to the hangings. It was an intriguing puzzle to be solved before the hangings were returned to the Audley End Tapestry Room.
Book title
Tapestry Conservation: Principles and Practice
Editor
Lennard, Frances
Hayward, Maria
Pagination
193-199
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Official URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Keywords
Collection