The tapestry of the coat of arms of the Bicknell family c.1900-5 by Miss Leoline Bicknell (1866-1951)
FOR SALE… This 120-year-old extraordinary historic, heraldic and decorative tapestry could be yours. It was made by Leoline Sidney Bicknell, grand-daughter of Elhanan Bicknell, whale oil magnate and patron of artists including Turner.
Leoline’s father Sidney Algernon Bicknell (1832-1911), one of the most ardent genealogists the Bicknell family has ever experienced, created a new coat of arms for the Bicknell family and had them authorised by the College of Arms of England . “Arms granted to A. Sydney Bicknell, 17 May, 1894, registered at the College of Arms: Or, on a mount vert, a beacon fired proper, a chief sat thereon a cross flory, between two porcupines respecting each other of the first. Mantling: Vert and or. Crest: On a wreath of the colours, or and gules, a dragon couchant reguardant, wings expanded, gorged with collar, or, holding in the dexter claw a cross as in the arms. Motto: Surge Biconyll“. He had imagined this new motto for the family, “Surge Biconyll”. The word “Surge” is a little joke (the Victorians loved a joke) because for at least five centuries, the Bicknell family cultivated and marketed serge , the everyday fabric made essentially from wool. “Surge” is also a word for moving suddenly and powerfully forward upward as in an army surging to victory or a family surging to multitudinous successes.
You can download all these details in pdf at https://bicknell.net/wp-content/uploads/Leoline-tapestry-2024.pdf
Leoline Bicknell, listed in the Post Office London Directory of 1900 as a professional embroiderer living at 26 Fulham Road, was in her late 30s when she set to work on a craftwork of brilliant excellence, probably to her father’s bidding. 120 years later, the colours of the threads are crystal clear and the gold filigree twinkles in the light. She adorned the surround with flowers of the valley, tendrils, peacocks and parakeets. The tapestry is today beautifully framed in the original hardwood and glass. The exterior frame dimensions are 920 x 1280 mm (3 foot 1 inch by 4 foot 2 inches) while the interior of the frame – the approx. size of the tapestry – is 760 x 1140 mm.
At this time Hannah, Brigitte and Edward the children of John and Theresa Bicknell of Goring wish to find a good home for the tapestry. It has been offered to the Victoria and Albert Museum where many such Victoria creations are stored and sometimes displayed, but it might be that a Bicknell family member would prefer it in their home or in a museum – the tapestry can be shipped anywhere in the world. Initial expertise values the embroidery at between £8,000 and £10,000 (say $10-12,000 US Dollars), but the siblings would be happy to see lower offers. It is likely that half of the proceeds could go to the charity of your choice .
Tapestry embroidered by: Miss Leoline S Bicknell (1866-1951), unmarried daughter of Sidney
Date: After 1894 (arms registered), probably before 1911 (death of Sidney Bicknell)
Size: exterior of frame 920×1280 mm, interior of frame, approx. size of tapestry 760×1140 mm
Frames in wood 80mm wide of which interior 10mm is gilded
Condition: very good. Tapestry has not been removed from frame in living memory.
Caption: A slip of paper (image below) was stuck to the back of the frame but has deteriorated. Possible interpretation by Marcus Bicknell September 2024…
Embroidery of a Coat of Arms *** *** ade xxx by Miss Leoline S. Bicknell from a
painting XXX XXX presentation in the Victoria & Albert Museum
Provenance: the tapestry has been in the Bicknell family since its creation, handed down through the generations to the later John Bicknell of Goring.
Details compiled by Marcus Bicknell for Bridget Bicknell Munday, 9 September 2024
Contact him initially for further details, marcus@bicknell.com or marcusbicknell22@gmail.com
