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D2010-CMD
Handkerchief
D2010-CMD

Handkerchief

Dateca. 1770
Artist/Maker R. Davids
OriginEngland
MediumLinen, plate-printed
DimensionsH: 25 1/2"; W: 29 3/4" (selvage to selvage)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1966-19
DescriptionCopperplate printed handkerchief with a hunting scene in blue on fine white tabby-woven linen. Scene shows hunters on horses in full gallop from left to right, following a large pack of hounds. In the background are rolling hills, farms with hedgerows, dwellings, windmills, and horse and cows grazing in the fields. The fox, circling back from right to left, can be seen in the upper right corner, heading toward the farms and rolling hills. In the four corners are wreaths enclosing four different motifs: a fox head, deer head, 2 hounds, and a rabbit.

Inscribed around the border is a hunting song:
Away to the Copse to the Copse lead away,
and now my Boys throw off ye Hounds.
I'll warrant he shews us he shews us some Play,
See Yonder he skulks thro the Grounds.
Then spur ye brisk Coursers & smoke e'm my Bloods
'tis a delicate scent lying Morn.
What Concert is equal to those of the Woods,
betwixt Eccho ye Hounds & ye Horn.
Each Earth see he try's at in vain,
The Cover no safer can find.
So he breaks it and scowers amain,
And leave's us at distance behind.
O'er Rocks and o'er Rivers and Hedges we fly,
All Hazard and Danger we scorn,
Stout Reynard we'll follow untill that he die.
Cheer up the Good Dogs with the Horn.
And now he scarce creeps thro' the Dale,
All parch'd from his Mouth hangs his Tongue,
His speed can no longer prevail
Nor his Life can his cunning prolong,
From our staunch & fleet Pack 'twas in vain that he fled,
See his Brush falls bemir'd forlorn,
The Farmers with Pleasure behold him lie dead
And shout to the sound of the Horn.

Construction History:
1. 1770 initial construction
2. Unknown date- white cottton lining stitched to the reverse
3. Date Uknown- 3 horizontal poeces of white twill tape are sewn to the backing. Sen to each of the pieces of twill tape is a narrow pice of hook side of Velcro.
4. Date unknown- darning and similiar repairs throughout the handkerchief.
Label TextLabel 1: This handkerchief features a scene of fox hunting in the British countryside, with a hunting song printed around the edges. A handkerchief similar to this was worn by John Cockil, an English convict servant and barber who ran away from his Fredericksburg, Virginia, master in 1772. The March 19, 1772 Virginia Gazette states that the runaway wore "a red and white Handkerchief round his Neck, with a hunting Song round the Borders of it."

Label 2: This handkerchief features a scene of fox hunting in the British countryside. Can you find the fox?

A popular period hunting song is printed around the edges. A handkerchief similar to this design was worn by John Cockil, an English convict servant and barber who ran away from his Fredericksburg, Virginia, master in 1772. The March 19, 1772 Virginia Gazette newspaper states that the runaway was wearing “a red and white Handkerchief round his Neck, with a hunting Song round the Borders of it.”

The verses around the edges of the handkerchief read:

Away to the Copse to the Copse lead away,
and now my Boys throw off ye Hounds.
I'll warrant he shews us he shews us some Play,
See Yonder he skulks thro the Grounds.
Then spur ye brisk Coursers & smoke e’m my Bloods
‘tis a delicate scent lying Morn.
What Concert is equal to those of the Woods,
betwixt Eccho ye Hounds & ye Horn.
Each Earth see he try’s at in vain,
The Cover no safer can find.
So he breaks it and scowers amain,
And leave’s us at distance behind.
O’er Rocks and o’er Rivers and Hedges we fly,
All Hazard and Danger we scorn,
Stout Reynard we’ll follow untill that he die.
Cheer up the Good Dogs with the Horn.
And now he scarce creeps thro’ the Dale,
All parch’d from his Mouth hangs his Tongue,
His speed can no longer prevail
Nor his Life can his cunning prolong,
From our staunch & fleet Pack ‘twas in vain that he fled,
See his Brush falls bemir’d forlorn,
The Farmers with Pleasure behold him lie dead
And shout to the sound of the Horn.

MarkingsR.DAVIDS (inscribed in printing on lower left corner)
Exhibition(s)