{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O317802"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O317802/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP5100/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP5100/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AP5100","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O317802/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O317802","accessionNumber":"816-1893","objectType":"Cushion cover","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In the 17th century the majority of wooden chairs and stools were not upholstered, and in more prosperous homes, decorated cushions were widely used both for comfort and for the attractiveness of their appearance. Long cushion covers like this were specifically made to fit wooden benches and window seats.\r\n\r\nWe do not know the identity of Mary Hulton, whose name appears on the cushion. The quality of the embroidery, and the amount of metal thread worked into it, suggests that it was professional rather than domestic work, so it may have been commissioned by her. Heraldic motifs, like the Royal Arms incorporated here, were often included in 17th century embroidery, reflecting an overriding interest in family and social position.","physicalDescription":"Linen canvas embroidered with silk, wool and metal thread, mainly in tent stitch, with some plaited and long-armed cross stitch. The stitches are minute, averaging 31 to 39 to the inch.\r\n\r\nLetters MH once worked on either side of the shield have been filled in and replaced with stars.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"linen (material)","id":"AAT14069"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"wool (textile)","id":"AAT243430"},{"text":"metal thread","id":"x30421"},{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Linen canvas embroidered with silk, wool and metal thread","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006AP5100"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"017","id":"THES310087"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cushion cover","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1603-25","earliest":"1603-01-01","latest":"1625-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"52","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"98","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"MARY HVLTON\r\nI R","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"IR for James Rex, King James I"}],"objectHistory":"Made either by or for Mary Hulton, whose name appears beneath the Royal Arms.\r\nPurchased by the Museum from Messrs J Sassoon & Co.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"embroidered, 1603-1625, English; \"Mary Hulton\" Royal Arms and IR","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Lea Nevinson, Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Textiles, London: HMSO, 1938, p.12"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars label text: \r\n\r\nCushion cover with royal arms\r\n1603–25\r\n\r\nIn the 17th century decorated cushions were used because most chairs and stools were not upholstered. Long cushion covers like this were specifically made to fit wooden benches and window seats. Heraldic motifs were often part of the design, reflecting the social position of the family as well as their loyalty to the crown.\r\n\r\nEngland\r\nMade by or for Mary Hulton\r\nLinen canvas, embroidered with silk, wool and metal thread\r\nWith royal arms and ‘IR’ for James Rex (James I)\r\nV&A 816-1893","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["816-1893"],"accessionNumberNum":"816","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1893,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}