William Morris in Quilting: Oxford

Friday, 13 September 2013

Oxford - day two

We've dodged a few rain showers today but still managed to see things we haven't seen before. But first some more of yesterday at the Ashmolean Museum. The museum also has a collection of silverware, watches and embroidery. But first the wrapped Egyptian mummy covers. First a boy less than 2 years old.......

and a young woman........

This is a 3D image of a 3 year old mummy and on first viewing we thought it was wire. But closer inspection and explanation revealed it is in fact ink drawings on 111 sheets of glass taken from a CT scan of a mummified boy.........

The silverware and watches were amazing.....No 208 was a favourite - a mourning ring from 1830.....

and check out the case of antique watches!

A couple of favourites.....from 1560.........

and 1730........

and 1760.......

The chime on this 18th century clock had an exquisite 'tinkle' and we immediatly thought of Beau. He is obsessed with clocks as we have an old cuckoo clock at home. So now whenever he sees a clock he says "cuckoo"

Silver and scallop shell sugar bowl from 1600 - 1625........

and a silver and turban shell cup from 1600-1625. I love the snail and boy on the top......

The old embroideries were inspiring. This biblical embroidery from 1629 is covered in metal threads on linen with gobelin stitch, long, short and tent stitch and to think it was probably done by a young girl by candlelight!......

An embroidered book cover from 1632..........

Stumpwork from 1673.......incredible.......

And the Lord Chancellor's seal purse from 1850 used to carry the Great Seal of the United Kingdom. It is velvet, silk, wire, embroidered with silk and metal thread couching..........

Some sights as we ended our day........first a wedding. We waited for the bride and groom to appear watching what we thought were the bridesmaids at the top of the steps...but not quite as you will see below. That law hasn't been passed in Australia just yet.......