An Elizabethan Inheritance: The Hardwick Hall Textiles

by Santina M. Levey

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire houses a world-famous collection of 16th and 17th century textile furnishings. The collection ranges from carpets and tapestries to bed sets and cushion covers, many of them decorated with superb embroidery. In this lavishly illustrated and authoritative introduction to the collection, Santina M. Levey places the textiles in their day-to-day context. During the 16th and 17th centuries textiles were of prime importance. They were the major means of providing color, pattern, warmth, and comfort within a house, and their high cost made them the vehicle for an often ostentatious display of wealth.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[John Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire still possesses an unmatched series of Elizabethan tapestries and other materials. The author describes these in their context, in perhaps a little too much detail, resulting in a dry, textbook-like volume. Beautifully illustrated, but hard to read.