Rye Pottery

The Guildsmen & their Wives – The Carpetmaker’s Wife

Chaucer mentions the specific Guilds in his prologue, and when we first introduced a generic Guildsman and his Wife we realised there was huge scope for us to work with each of the named Guilds allowing us an exciting choice of costume especially for the wives. As it says in the Prologue: They had the capital and revenue,/Besides their wives declared it was their due./And if they did not think so, then they ought;/To be called Madam is a glorious thought.

 Besides their wives declared it was their due,

And if they did not think so then they ought:

To be called Madam is a glorious thought.

The Carpetmaker’s Wife sports a soft Cobalt blue dress with a delicate repeat motif teamed with a flattering coral collar. She hasgenerously patterned coral cuffs to complement her husband’s wide sleeves.

Her headdress is one of the most complicated in our Canterbury Tales range, allowing her carefully netted hair to be shown as well as her veil, but also allowing our talented painting team to show off their skills in the minutest detail.

Click here to see her husband The Carpetmaker.