Birds of a Feather

Featherwork was a favourite pursuit for young ladies from the mid 1800s. Dyed feathers could be purchased by weight and, whilst they were mostly hen and pigeon feathers, more exotic feathers were also available. A household auction advert in the Norfolk Chronicle (29 Sept. 1787) listed amongst the featured lots “some elegant Pictures in featherwork”.

This set of nine place cards is more likely to date to the early to mid 19th century. Each card features a colourful bird in feathers with a watercolour setting. Apart from light marks on a few of the cards, as shown, they are in fine condition. Alas there is no record of the young lady who painstakingly created them.