{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O361855"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O361855/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FC1757/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FC1757/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011FC1757","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR2928","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR8939","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011FC1760","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6090","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O361855/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O361855","accessionNumber":"879&a-1904","objectType":"Valance","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Valances were the borders or bands that ran around the two sides and end of an Elizabethan bed, hiding the bed rail or the place from which the bed curtains were suspended. They formed a frieze that was particularly suitable for embroidery with figure subjects, often featuring a narrative to provide interest and entertainment. Sets of bed hangings also created a draught-free and private sleeping compartment. \r\n\r\nThe style and workmanship of these valances suggests that they were made in a professional workshop either in France itself or under strong French influence. Both show scenes from the Metamorphoses by the Latin poet Ovid : the death of Adonis, and the transformation of Myrrha.","physicalDescription":"Embroidered in wool and silk on linen canvas, mainly in tent stitch, with some raised work.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"},{"text":"wool yarn","id":"x30441"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidery","id":"x40351"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"wool and silk embroidery on linen canvas","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"},{"text":"Interiors","id":"THES48933"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2011FC1757","2009CR2928","2009CR8939","2011FC1760","2012FT6090"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404985"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404985"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Valance","id":""}],[{"text":"Valance","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1580-1599","earliest":"1580-01-01","latest":"1599-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"216.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"879-1904","note":"converted from department file"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"57.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"879-1904","note":"converted from department file"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"218.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"879A-1904","note":"converted from department file"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"57.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"879A-1904","note":"converted from department file"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The valances were purchased from the Churchwardens of Purley Church, near Reading, Berkshire. A letter on file from Rev Dudley Matthews states that \"nothing definite is known as to the history of the embroidery. It has for some years been hung in the Vestry and is said to have been used as an altar cloth.\"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pair of embroidered valances, 1580-1599, French or English, depicting scenes of Venus and Adonis and of Myrrha","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.32-33"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Metamorphoses"],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars label text: \r\n\r\nBed valances\r\n1580–1600\r\n\r\nSets of bed hangings created an enclosed, private space within the bedrooms of palaces and grand houses. They were a focal point for luxurious decoration. The horizontal form of valances suited narratives that continued around the bed. These four valances show scenes of courtly life and stories from classical literature.\r\n\r\nEngland, Scotland or France\r\nLinen canvas, embroidered with wool and silk\r\nV&A T.135, 136-1991. Bequeathed by Maud Ochs\r\nV&A 879&A-1904","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"<u>British Galleries label text</u>:\n\nBED VALANCES\n1580-1600\n\nValances were borders around the top of an Elizabethan bed. Their horizontal form created a frieze for narratives that were embroidered or woven. This pair shows two scenes from the myth of Adonis. One features his conception, resulting from the incestuous affair between Myrrah and Cinyras. The other shows his death while hunting.\n\n<i>Linen canvas, embroidered with wool and silk\nEmbroidered in England, Scotland or France</i>\n\nMuseum no. 879&amp;A-1904","date":{"text":"10/06/2014","earliest":"2014-06-10","latest":"2014-06-10"}}],"partNumbers":["879-1904","879A-1904"],"accessionNumberNum":"879","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1904,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Valance [1]","Valance [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}