An Arts & Crafts embroidered patchwork
bedcover designed by John Aldam Heaton (1830-1897) and worked by his sister Fanny Heaton (1828-1893), English, 2nd half 19th century, large patchwork coverlet, expertly embroidered in a variety of stitches, including stem, chain, satin, and bullion stitch, comprising: 9 red squares in centre, each embroidered in white thread with a different botanical spray, including dog roses, fuchsias, foxgloves, tiger lilies, blackberries, and acorns; smaller blue squares, embroidered in white with a circular motif, at intersections (connected by stitched wavy lines in red on a cream ground) and corners (connected by a dainty scrolling floral border in pink and red on a cream ground); a cream border of red-stitched floral or foliate sprigs, including primroses, morning glory, carnations, and vine leaves, left-hand side with 7 x 4 cm pale brown stain; and an outer scrolling border of red berries and leaves on a cream ground, with blue circular cornerpieces repeated, occasional light spotted marks but overall in very
good condition, backed with white cotton (one side with some spotting and stains), edges bound in blue, 253 x 258.5 cm (99.5 x 102 ins)
Footnote: Provenance: John Aldam Heaton and his sister Fanny Heaton; their great niece Evelyn Spence Addison (1891-1962); her daughter Jean Cecil Edwards née Addison (1923-2013); her son, the present owner. The owner donated a similar embroidered bedcover to the V&A, also designed by John Aldam Heaton and worked by his sister Fanny (accession number T.213-1989). John Aldam Heaton was an artist, designer and businessman, who started off as a wool and textile manufacturer in Bradford, before moving to the ancient farm of 'Woodbank' in Yorkshire in 1860.
Influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement, he designed furniture, stained glass, wallpaper and textiles, and counted Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Burne-Jones, and William Morris amongst his friends. Indeed, in 1861 Heaton invited Rossetti to paint a
portrait of his wife, Ellen, and the artist stayed a month at 'Woodbank' in order to carry out the commission. The painting, Regina Cordium [Queen of Hearts] - Portrait of Mrs Ellen Heaton, subsequently formed the basis for a stained glass window for the house, a commission which was one of the first undertaken by Morris & Co. Heaton was a member of the Neo-Classical Arts and Crafts Movement, and published several books about art and design, including Furniture and Decoration in England during the
Eighteenth Century (1889-1892), Beauty and Art (1897), and a trade catalogue in 1895 showcasing 'Chimney-pieces, Ornamental Lattice, Wall-papers, Frieze Painting, Blinds, Carpets, Furniture, Designs for Needlework, Embroidery, Curtains, Church Work,
Stained Glass, Painting'. He set up workshops in Bloomsbury in order to undertake larger and more prestigious commissions, collaborating with many important artists as well as the architect Richard Norman Shaw. Working with Shaw, Heaton’s company
produced lavish interior designs and furnishings for the White Star Line ships. After Heaton's death the Aldam Heaton Company was incorporated into White Star and designed the interiors for the RMS Olympic, Titanic and Britannic. The V&A has several wallpaper designs by Heaton in its collection. Fanny Heaton married the eminent physician Dr John Deakin Heaton (no relation). She was a strong advocate for the education of women, and an early campaigner for women's suffrage.
[Pre-auction description by Susanna Winters of Dominic Winter Auctions. We sold the bedspread in July 2024 because it was too big to display. We are fortunate to have another: Bedspread #2.]
An Arts & Crafts embroidered patchwork
bedcover designed by John Aldam Heaton (1830-1897) and worked by his sister Fanny Heaton (1828-1893), English, 2nd half 19th century, large patchwork coverlet, expertly embroidered in a variety of stitches, including stem, chain, satin, and bullion stitch, comprising: 9 red squares in centre, each embroidered in white thread with a different botanical spray, …
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