Thomas and Matilda Silkscreen Prints
Posted By whatsitworth on January 11, 2010
Dear What’s It Worth,
These two wall hangings were given to me by my mother who lived in England for a while. The documents I have here read, “limited edition silk-screen print hand produced by Corinium Art, F.F.G. Tiley, Sapperton, Cirencester, Gloc GL7 6LE.” The male is identified as Thomas Chaucer Esquire; the female is Matilda Chaucer, wife of above. They were “Commissioned for St. Mary’s Church, Ewelme in Oxfordshire.”
MM
New Zealand
Dear MM,
Welcome to our “What’s It Worth” community! How fun that you found us all the way in New Zealand.
Your prints depict poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s son Thomas (1367-1434) and Thomas’ wife Matilda (died 1436). Thomas was a member of the British House of Commons and was elected speaker of the house five times. It was quite a coup when he married Matilda Burghersch as she was considered to be above his station both in social status and in
wealth. Ewelme in Oxfordshire was her estate and it is at St. Mary’s Church on the estate that she and Thomas were buried.
What you have is at least a third generation away from from the original “Monumental Brasses” that marked the lives and passings of Thomas and Matilda. Brasses like this can be found in churches all over England; they date from Medieval through Tudor times. The brasses are a fascinating way to trace customs through the Gothic,
Renaissance, Elizabethan and Reformation by examining the dress and hair styles, armor and symbolic attributes associated with the person. For example, Thomas is depicted standing on a unicorn. This attribute reflects virtue, courage and righteousness; I can’t quite tell but Matilda seems to be shown on a lamb reflecting great patience(!)
Taking brass rubbings was a popular pastime in until recent decades when the practice has been all but forbidden. The process involves securing a sheet of paper over the brass, gently rubbing the surface with a soft wax crayon and then burnishing the print to let it shine. Most churches no longer allow the practice as the rubbing
gradually wears away the brass. “Brass Rubbing Centers” all over Britain now use replica (and sometimes miniaturized) brasses for the public’s use. Brass rubbings come on the market frequently but have little monetary value in the $10 to $50 range.
Your prints are silkscreen prints done after the brass rubbings. Corinium Art is a company in the UK that produces large numbers of “limited edition” prints by hundreds of artists. They still exist and wholesale prices for their prints range from about $12 to $20. I’m afraid that’s about the value of your Thomas and Matilda.
Interestingly, part of the estate of Ewelme and some of the alms houses set up on the property by the Chaucer’s daughter, Alice, Duchess of Sussex, still stand today. They are part of a Bed and Breakfast Inn! Maybe they’d like to purchase your prints!
All the best.
Jane Alexiadis
Michaan’s Auctions
Alameda, California
Comments