Embroidery panel: Judith with the head of Holofernes

The Burrell Collection is acknowledged as being one of the leading collections of seventeenth century British embroidery, with embroidered and raised work being an area of outstanding significance. This raised work panel is of a very high quality, both in its draughtsmanship and execution. The central panel depicts Judith dressed in antique costume holding a large-scale head of Holofernes, the Assyrian general who was besieging her town. A wide border surrounds the scene with several animals in raised and padded work. The panel also has the Lloyd family of Flintshire coat of arms which makes it even more pertinent to The Burrell Collection. Sir William Burrell had a particular interest in heraldry and collected many items depicting coats of arms.