Album of watercolor and pen-and-ink designs for embroidery

This is a large portfolio of carefully executed designs for embroidery or needlework. The designs include floral borders, swags and sprigs, spot and corner designs, repeating motifs, curlicues, and some abstract designs. About 60% are in watercolor. The uncolored designs are in pen and ink and/or gray wash. Various laid and wove papers are used, with watermarks of the makers S. Wise & Co.; Whatman; Hall, Whatman & Balston; and John Hayes, with dates ranging from 1819 to 1824; with some apparently later unwatermarked wove papers.

Some designs are openwork, for broderie anglaise; others are whitework patterns to be worked on muslin, with delicate needlework fillings. About five appear to be unfinished, with some of the designs lightly traced in pencil, and a couple of others have only partial coloring. There are a few faint penciled notes, such as "red pattern, light sprays of roses form the veil", or "very pretty when worked". Most leaves bear an x or cross in pencil near the gutter, possibly indicating that the designs on the sheet had been copied.