4644.
Cradle-quilt; ground, green satin, embroidered with armorial bearings, the four Evangelists, and flowers, all in coloured silks, and dated 1612. German. 2 feet 5 inches by 1 foot 9 inches.
Within a narrow wreath of leaves and flowers there are two
shields, of which the first bears gules a wheel or, surmounted by a
closed helmet, having its mantlings of or and gules, and on a wreath
gules a wheel or as a crest; the second, azure, a cross couped argent
between a faced crescent and a ducal coronet, both or, and all placed in
pile, surmounted by a closed helmet having its mantlings of or and
azure, and on a wreath or, a demy bear proper with a cross argent on
its breast, crowned with a ducal coronet or, and holding in its paws a
faced crescent or. At each of the four corners is the emblem of an
evangelist with his name, and shown as a human personage nimbed and
coming out of a flower, with his appropriate emblem upholding an
open volume which he has in his hands, thus calling to mind those
nursery rhymes:—
"Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Guard the bed I lie upon," &c;
which seem to be as well known in Germany as they were, and yet are, in England. See "Church of Our Fathers," t. iii. p. 230.
4645.
Cradle-quilt; centre, crimson silk, embroidered with flowers in coloured silk, mostly outlined with gold thread, and here and there sprinkled with gold ornamentations, and surrounded by a broad satin quilting edged with a gold lace-like border. German, late 17th century. 2 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 2 inches.
The cradle-cloths, or quilts, are of common occurrence, and afford
occasions for much elegance of design.
