Furnishing fabric
Category
Textiles
Date
Unknown
Materials
Silk
Measurements
450 x 450 mm
Order this imageCollection
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
NT 548694
Summary
Square silk tapestry fabric depicting two peacocks amongst stylized foliage with fruits. Embroidered using free stitching onto a plain weave linen ground. Mostly stem stitch, in silk floss. Possibly a chair seat cover. Freestyle embroidery includes styles which are not ‘counted’ or defined by the weave of the underlying fabric. This allows for a wide range of stitches and techniques to be used and a freer flowing design to be created. This piece, featuring peacock and pomegranate motifs, is thought to be an example of ‘Art Needlework’ a style promoted by designer William Morris, one of the leading figures in the British and European ‘Arts and Crafts Movement’, circa 1880 – 1920. Morris championed traditional stitching and textile skills, often inspired by natural forms and historic textiles from Italy, Persia (modern day Iran) and Turkey. Art Needlework was also supported by the Royal School, of Needlework, established in 1872, who sought to restore "Ornamental Needlework for secular purposes, to the high place it once held amongst decorative arts".
Provenance
An item from the Pamela Ward collection, left to the National Trust in the will of Miss Ward in 1994