A History Of Embroidery
The art of embroidery has been practiced in one form or another throughout the
ages. Embroidery is simply defined as thread embellishment on cloth. Practically
as long as there has existed cloth, there has existed embroidery.
Some of the most famous civilizations for creating brilliant embroidery
creations are the Japanese and the English. They both used embroidery to
decorate ceremonial garments as well as decorative home items. While the
Japanese are most known for their amazing kimonos, the English are well known
for their hand embroidered fabric furniture panels.
Unfortunately for collectors, many of the works of embroidery art of the past
have been lost to time and decay. The silk threads and fabrics are very prone to
damage by insects and light. It is very unlikely these days to find a work made
prior to the mid 1600’s. Examples from earlier than this time only exist in
museums, and churches who have taken the care to restore and preserve them.
There are two major forms of embroidery from the past which are collected today;
they are: stump work and samplers.
Stump work was made in the mid-seventeenth century and consists of a highly
colored, embroidered design on white silk. Often the works are done of scenes of
people and carved wooden heads, hands and feet are added to these works of art.
Often found with stump work are padded areas which are used to make the designs
three dimensional and interesting to the eye.
Stump work was made to depict scenes of live at the time and was used to cover
mirror frames, and to cover trinket boxes. These trinket boxes were generally
made with many small drawers and with secret compartments for hiding valuables
such as tea and jewelry. Often the trinket boxes contained mirrors and were
lined with paper and metallic tapes.
Serious collectors today are still discovering wonderful stump work to add to
their collections.
In the past, as part of the regular school curriculum of girls, embroidery was
taught. These very young students, sometimes as young as seven or eight years
old, would show their sewing skills by creating colorful samplers. The samplers
would showcase their sewing skills as well as their knowledge of the numbers and
alphabets. Many samplers were created which depict the children, their interests
and their school buildings as well. Samplers were generally stitched on wool or
silk fabrics with very colorful silk and metallic threads and can still be found
for purchase today. Very old or very decorative samplers today are worth a lot
of money to the collectors who are fortunate enough to own them.
Some of the most unusual embroidery throughout the times has been that of maps.
Maps were drawn on silk and then stitched. The names of countries and other
places of interest were stitched on the maps.
If you have ever tried any form of hand embroidery, you know it is a slow and
tedious process. The results are amazing, but it can take a very long time to
achieve even the simplest of designs. This makes all embroidered fabrics from
the past very collectable today by those who understand all of the hours and
patience which went into creating the works of art. While children around the
world no longer do embroidery as part of their school curriculum, the art is
still practiced by adults all over the globe.
