Black Samplers From Oldambt 1800-1880 & School Girl Samplers From Groningen and Friesland 1880-1968

I have just spent a most pleasant Sunday going through the latest book by Hennie Stevan-Bathoorn of the Museum Voor Naaldkunst. Hennie has been studying the black samplers of Groningen for longer than I have known her and she is the authority on the subject. In this book she traces the history and background of the girls in the north of the Netherlands who stitched these distinctive samplers.

The book also looks at more recent samplers stitched in the area and includes not only the red and white samplers we are so familiar with now, but other needleworks such as knitted garments for babies and dolls. The book is in Dutch, but it does have a short precis at the end in English (and also in German). There are nearly 200 pages with many illustrations. The ISBN is 978-90-78543-00-8. For more details click here.

Needlework Samplers @ Dreweatts of Bristol 6 November 2012

At Dreweatts of Bristol next week (click here for more details) are some interesting lots. The first is Lot 236 and includes works by Emily Hatch Marden. There are three miniature nightshirts, and a similar garment, dated 1897 and initialled EHM;  and two small samplers, one worked by Emily Hatch in 1850 and the other by Emily Hatch Marden. There are also a numbe rof other pieces in the lot. The estimate for all the pieces is: £150 - £250.

Lot 235 includes a card folder containing a collection of embroidered silks, including a fragment of 18th century fabric; a collection of 19th century silk Christmas cards; a small piece of Venetian lace, dated 1680; silk squares decorated with paintings of birds; lace mittens; a framed portrait of a Victorian lady; some pressed flowers; a collection of leather gloves; and a tiny pair of miniature silk gloves. The estimate is: £100 - £150

Lot 239 is an interesting late 16th century English embroidered panel, probably cut down from a larger panel. It is embroidered in tent and cross-stitch and shows an animal surrounded by a fence, the ribbon above with the latin phrase Potius Mori (Rather Death), conveys the message that death is to be preferred to captivity. Was this stitched by someone held captive? It measures 26cm x 28cm and the estimate is: £300 - £400

Lot 238 above and below in detail is an early 18th century cover or pillow sham, the undyed linen embroidered in chain stitch (probably tamboured) with coloured wools, forming a design of birds amongst exotic flowers, stems, leaves and curling tendrils, having a flat quilted ground in a chevron pattern. It measures 60cm x 86cm and comes with an estimate of: £3,000 - £4,000.

Coptic Boxers?

I love the strong graphic depictions of characters on Coptic tapestries - but it was only yesterday while I had a tea-break and picked up some of my Coptic Weaving books that I was hit by the similarity between some of the characters and those little beings we call boxers that parade across band samplers.

Here you can see some of those early figures with their very stylized outlines and below some examples of boxers from the samplers of the 17th century. Though many girls chose to clothe their boxers in colourful outfits, many remain as simple graphic outlines.

If you are looking for a comprehensive and reasonable (25 pence !) source of information on Coptic Weaving, I do recommend this very accessible book from Merseyside Museums - it has some excellent illustrations and very clear instructions if you would like to try some Coptic weaving yourself.

A Mirror To My Art - Competition Winners

The judging of this competition went right up to the line - and beyond! But now I am delighted to announce the winners. Before I do, I think it is important to mention that the quality of needlework displayed by the finalists was superb - meticulously-well-planned and exceptionally skilled in execution. For these reason all finalists will be awarded a special commendation and a copy of the Perpetually Engaging Diary. The delay in announcing the winners was due to the impossibility of favouring one project over another, so there are two 3rd prize winners.

The first 3rd prize winner is Francesca from Rome (Italy). The judges were most impressed by the fine shaded work, subtle dimensionality and beautiful design of this piece. Congratulations Francesca you win £75. 

and the second joint 3rd prize winner is Rose from California (USA) for her fabulous and exquisitely-worked detached button-hole applied-work and fine gilt laces. Congratulations Rose, your prize is also £75.

The winner of the 2nd prize and the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller prize is Dianne from South Australia. Her scrolling gold-work mirror purse is a truly scintillating technical tour de force and gives us such a clear idea of how such work, now largely tarnished and blackened, would have appeared on original 17th century works. Many congratulations Dianne, you have been awarded £250.

And the 1st prize of £500, having a unanimous vote, goes to Amy of Calgary, Canada. This entrant fused conception, design and execution at the highest level into an object of sheer original brilliance.

I shall be posting detail images of all the winners starting in a week's time.