Daphne Knott

 

 

The first piece of needlework I remember producing was a felt thimble case in the shape of a sombrero hat, which I proudly presented to my mum as a Mothering Sunday gift. She still has it and it still contains that plastic thimble, so at least it was durable if not especially decorative.

Since then I have nearly always had a needle in my hand for some reason. From making my own clothes in the 70s, to making assorted clothes and many weird and wonderful party and fancy dress outfits for my children, my trusty sewing machine was in constant use.

More recently, I have concentrated on hand sewing and more formal embroidery. I have attended quite a few courses at the Royal School of Needlework at HamptonCourtPalace, which have been both challenging and inspirational. These have opened my eyes to the possibilities of techniques such as goldwork, which I would previously have thought would only be useful for the makers of regimental uniforms.

I have worked with archives throughout my career, and been privileged to work with a number of fascinating collections. I have long thought that archives could be an inspiration to artists of all sorts. Different styles of handwriting, stories form the past, hidden codes and meanings might all inspire the curious artist. While I have worked at HALS, I have often used documents from the Wittewronge collection in a historical context. Threads of Time builds on my interest in Tudor and maritime history via the story of George Clifford.

About my Piece

Although he was as well known to his contemporaries as Francis Drake and John Hawkins, George Clifford is a man who has slipped out of the public consciousness. His extravagant lifestyle and gambling problems would be a familiar sight in today’s world of A list celebrities, but they ultimately led him to financial ruin.

Inspired by his ultimately unsuccessful voyages to the West Indies, I have chosen to create a fighting gauntlet to represent both his position at court as Queen’s champion and his seafaring expeditions, both beset by dangers. The gauntlet has been thrown, the challenge made, who will be the victor?