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Overview
The King's Speech
This cushion was embroidered by Nancy Robertson (later Merrick) of Dunedin, using transfers from an embroidery pattern book. According to notes written by Nancy for her family, she embroidered the cushion in 1937 to demonstrate her loyalty to King George VI, whose Christmas broadcast of 1939 also deeply impressed her. Nancy wrote:
'I am sure you all recall King George VI who ascended the throne during the very difficult years before the War. In Dunedin at the time the local DIC (department store) displayed various pieces to embroider. To show my loyalty I labouriously embroidered this cushion cover. I will always remember listening to the Christmas Broadcast 1939 when he quoted from 'God Knows by Minnie Louise Haskins'.
'And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way".'
The gold satin cushion features an an oval portrait of King George VI in his offical regalia. He is flanked by the Royal Supporters, a 'lion rampant guardian, royally crowned' and a 'unicorn, rampant argent'. Interestingly, Nancy chose not to depict the unicorn chained as per standard Royal iconography.
The legend 'God Save Our King' is been embroidered directly above the portrait and 'Coronation of King George VI May 12, 1937'
It is possible that Nancy used transfers of the Royal lion and unicorn from a transfer book, and based the portrait of King George VI on a colour pamphlet on the new King written by Taylor Darbyshire (published by Hutchinson). A copy of the pamphlet was tucked into the back pocket of a book of Coronation transfers owned by Nancy.