The St.John of Bletsoe Table-Carpet by Frank T Smallwood

A detailed description of the St.John of Bletso table-carpet in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, including heraldry.

Frank Smallwood refers to the carpet as ' a very notable example of English domestic embroidery' illustrating the highly skilled needlework of the household furnishings of a noble family in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He draws especial attention to the border of the carpet which has a series of twenty small shields of arms, and a central roundel in which there is an achievement of twelve quarterings for a St.John and twelve more for his wife.