An 18th century English needlework picture

Initialled ‘MR’ and dated ‘1773’, worked in silk and wool in petit point with a sunflower, rose, peony, carnation, tulip and other flowers in a basket set on small hillocks, on an umber cross stitched ground.

Provenance: Thurnham Hall, near Lancaster, the seat of the Dalton family from 1556 until 1982. If made by a member of the family, a possible candidate would be Mary Rookwood Gage (the youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Rookwood Gage, 5th Baronet of Hengrave Hall, Suffolk and a member of the prominent, and occasionally notorious, recusant Rookwood family of Coldham Hall), who married in 1774 John Dalton, lord of the manor of Thurnham from 1785 to his death in 1837.

The needlework 66.7cm (26¼”) high and 56.5cm (22¼”) wide.

In a carved giltwood frame 70.7cm (27⅞”) high and 60.7cm (23⅞”) wide.

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