Conserving Cassandra’s Handkerchief

Amongst the treasures of the Jane Austen’s House collection are several items of dress and needlework, hand-stitched by Jane herself. These items are incredibly scarce and fragile, requiring specialist care to preserve and display them.

One such object is a delicate linen handkerchief embroidered by Jane for her sister Cassandra, featuring the initials ‘C.A’ in one corner, surrounded by a floral design.

The handkerchief was donated to the House in the late 1950s by an Austen family descendent, and we believe it to have been on display ever since – helping to tell the story of Jane Austen’s life in this house, her needlework skill, and her love for her sister.

Over time the condition of the delicate handkerchief – has grown more fragile,  and earlier this year we removed it from display for remedial conservation work.  We are delighted that this work will  take place this autumn, supported by generous funding from The Textile Society.

The handkerchief will receive specialist conservation treatment and a bespoke display mount by Morwena Stephens, enabling it to return to display in 2025 as part of our celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth. Along the way, research into its manufacture and materials will be undertaken by Shelley Tobin, a dress and textile historian, increasing our understanding of the object.

As it returns to display next year, new photography and interpretation will improve access and insight for visitors and scholars, both here at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton and online.

Suzanne Smith, Textile Society Awards and Bursaries Representative said:

‘We are excited to fund this project which will secure the long term preservation of this wonderful object and coincide with celebrations planned for 2025, the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth. Research, photography and new interpretation will improve access and insight and be of great interest to the Textile Society’s membership and textile enthusiasts worldwide.’

Items of material culture belonging to Jane Austen are very scarce – items of dress and needlework belonging to or made by her are even more so. This handkerchief represents a unique opportunity to better understand Jane’s material world, and that known by her characters, through a tangible object. We are excited to see what stories we can uncover and how this object can reveal more about Jane Austen and her world.