Showing 98 results

Cypriot. A type of needlemade lace worked in varieties of buttonhole stitch which has been made since the Venetian occupation of Cyprus in the 15th and 16th centuries. This rather stiff lace, produced mainly for tourists, was derived from Italian reticella lace. Design of figures dancing to Pan's pipes.

Danish. Traditional work on natural linen incorporating drawn thread work and embroidery in satin-stitch. Relies for its effect on the changes of texture of the embroidery . Design based on stylised flower and plant forms.

German. White lawn worked with white cotton shadow work and French knots. The quotation reads 'Dann sol ches ist ge schehen auf dass die schrifterfuellet wuerde' (then it came to pass, so that the word would be fulfilled). This work was inspired by the Hungertuch Lenten hangings which were a popular source at the Schule fur Handwerk and Kunstegewerbe. At a time when imagery was constrained such religious depictions were at odds with the political regime and that they are being used as oblique references to the artists' and students' political and social concerns.

German. Applique and simple stitchery on soft orange silk, showing apostles and dove. Designed at Schule fur Handwerk und Kunstgewerbe. Munster. Framed.

German (Berlin). Apricot cotton with appliqued braids and cords and french knots.

German. On white silk with woven spot design. Embroidered with silk, black cotton and metal threads in cross, four-sided, running, back, fly, satin stitches, couching and French knots. Shades of brown and oragne with naive figures and sacred emblems. The stylised figures and text are similar to those on the Hungertuch (Hunger cloth) Lenten cloth also made by the Munster school in the late 1920s. This was inspired by the 1623 Hungertuch Lenten hangings in Telgte, near Munster.

Possibly German. Circular mat with three couples. 'Art Deco' influence in the design.

German. Circular table cover, embroidered in white thread on net in needle-run, darned, and cross-hatched stitches, design of fish and flowers. This is one of a set made for the first class saloon of the SS. Bremen and identical to one exhibited at the 'Modern Embroidery' exhibition, Victorian and Albert Museum 1932.

Greek. Embroidered in coloured silks and metal thread. Symmetrical floral design with stylised roses and carnations etc.

Greek. Traditional embroidery in solid silk stitchery completely covering the coarse linen background. Predominently black with red and other colours.

Greek. On coarse linen embroidered in cross-stitch in grey and pink thick cotton yarn. Stylised repeating leaf motif.

Greek. On coarse linen embroidered in cross-stitch in pink and blue cotton. Repeating formal design based on plant forms.

Greek. Strip of linen embroidered with repeating bird motif in cross-stitch in pink and grey, with a band of needlewoven insertion worked beneath.

Greek Islands, possibly Chios. Part of a coarse linen sleeve with formalised tree designs embroidered with horsehair, dyed in shades of rust green and blue.

Armenian. Traditional towel with formal floral decoration in silk and metal thread embroidery at each end. Hand woven cotton background.

Hungarian. Traditional peasant work, linen with drawn thread work on sleeves within borders of black cross-stitch embroidery and sequins. A few of the sequins applied to the sleeves still remain. Acquired from the Isabella home industry, Budapest.

Indian. Coloured silk embroidery on red woollen background. Floral design repeats four times in width. Possibly from Kashmir.

Indian. Richly embroidered section of neck and shoulders of garment. Red, yellow, green and blue on corded black silk. Kashmir cypress cone pattern.

Indian. Closely arranged kashmir cone design in metal threads and silks on green woollen background. Richly embroidered. Irregular shape.

Indian. Coloured silk on brown woollen background. Kashmir cone design. Not very high quality nor in good condition.

Indian. Type of work known as 'Bagh'. Rust hand-woven cotton ground almost entirely covered with formal geometirc shapes. Worked with darning stitch. Rich border of gold silk embroidery at each end. Note purple stripe to spoil symmetry to avoid insulting God by attempting to produce perfect work. From Punjab.

Indian. Rust cotton background tie-dyed deep brown and embroidered with geometric design. Cotton and silk embroidery in subtle colour scheme.

Italian. Worked on fine corded cream silk in metal threads and floss silk in graduations of tones of green and pink. Shows influence of Oriental design. Some areas have been unpicked and the background has shredded in places.

Norwegian. Linen runner with border decorated with traditional design in drawn-thread work and satin stitch. Geometric design. Double row of buttonholed scalloped picots.

Persian. Silk satin hanging with repeating design showing a hunter on horseback, musicians and figures at a hookah. The hanging is lined with block printed cotton. Gray-green with soft colours.

Chinese. From a jacket. Yellow silk ground almost entirely covered with embroidered pattern inspired by waves and sea spray. Use of shading copied by European embroideries in the 18th century.

Portuguese. Part of peasant costume. Closely woven in red wool on white warp. Geometric design in bright colours in loom embroidery - extra weft pulled up in loops on the surface Yellow braid waistband, and pink braid edges.

Russian. Drawn-thread work design on white linen showing repeating bird motif in pink and blue. Blue has faded.

Spanish. Copy of traditional design in brown wool on cream linen in cross-stitch, satin stitch and buttonhole stitch. Fringed with brown wool.

Swedish. On greenish-yellow handwoven fabric. Birds and flower motif in a variety of threads. Foreningen Handarbetets Vanner, Stokholm.

Swedish. Linen cloth with cross-stitch embroidery in two shades of blue. Traditional motifs such as stags and figures with candlesticks. Blanket stitched hem.

Swedish. Coarse linen scrim with border decoration in linen embroidery. Design of squares of satin stitch with pulled thread fillings. By Svensk Hemslojd, Stockholm.

Swedish. Pale turquoise linen scrim decorated with squared design with drawn thread work, and embroidery in beige linen.

Swedish. Yellow linen scrim with drawn thread work and embroidery in white linen.

Chinese. From jacket. Richly embroidered flowers and butterflies predominently blue on ivory background. Some unfinished areas show painted design beneath.

Swedish. Circular blue mat with border decoration in white yarns of varying textures and stitches.

Swiss. Natural linen with peacock design from the Grisons, in black cross stitch. Black hand made cord along the seam joining sides. Removable quilted lining decorated with black stars.

Turkish. Handwoven striped silk towel. Border of repeating flower motifs at each end in silk and metal threads. Tasselled fringe.

Turkish. Decorated at each end with formalised repeating tree design in green and yellow silks and metal threads, on fine cotton.

Yugoslavian. Sleeveless dress with side seams and hem decorated with red, blue and black embroidery. Tasselled braid belt. From Bosnia. This item was damaged in the fire in GSA's Mackintosh Building on 23rd May 2014. Textile conservation was completed in 2019.

Chinese. Design of trees, plants and butterflies and a bridge in Pekinese stitch and others, on stiff cream satin. A little metal thread used to outline trees.

Chinese. Extremely fine satin stitched coloured silks on ivory satin, edged with blue. Charming figures, pagodas and flowers.

Chinese. Yellow silk robe, richly embroidered with coloured silks and gold thread. The symbolic decoration includes representations of the sun, moon, and stars only worn by Emperors. Also Imperial dragons, earth, sea, sky and sacred mountains.

Cretan. Traditional design of scrolling pattern of animals, figures, birds and flowers. Dark blue silk embroidery on natural linen background, mostly in Cretan stitch.

British formal flower motif outlined in chain-stitched metal thread, on linen. Blackwork fillings in silk in several patterns have become worn in places. The motif has been cut out of background and mounted on modern linen. About half the metal thread embroidery is modern restoration. Shows influence of formal Sanish design. Much of the outline is restoration and has been remounted. This work may have been carried out in J&P Coats studio. Another identical and two related motifs, donated to the NDS by John Jacoby are in the Embroiderers' Guild Collection (EG 206). Originally they may have been part of a cover for a long cushion.

British. Exotic flower and bird motifs in bright colours chain stitched on linen. Several motifs recur in different colours. Influenced by imported painted cottons from Far East.