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Design for Berlin woolwork

Embroidery Design
ca. 1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a square coloured grid embroidery design of a bird of paradise on a branch for Berlin wool work. Berlin wool work is embroidery with Berlin wools or any type of thread or beads on canvas by means of copying a coloured chart known as a Berlin pattern. Almost exclusively confined to the 19th century, Berlin wool derived its name from the wool that came from Merino sheep in Saxony. It was taken to Gotha to be spun and on to Berlin to be dyed. The production of this wool was discontinued in the 1930s. Prior to the introduction of Berlin patterns it was very rare to find any indication about the choice of colour or threads. Berlin patterns were always coloured by hand at first, until the emergence of industrial printing techniques. The names of a few Berlin pattern makers are often seen on examples such as here with Hertz and Wegener. Others include L.W.Wittich, Carl F.W.Wicht, A.Todt and G.E.Falbe. Unfortunately no records remain about these printers and hence very little is known about them.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDesign for Berlin woolwork (generic title)
Materials and techniques
lithograph coloured by hand
Brief description
Hertz and Wegener. Design for embroidery. Berlin, ca.1860
Physical description
This is a square coloured grid embroidery design of a red, black, blue, green, yellow and purple bird of paradise on a branch with pink and brown flowers
Dimensions
  • Height: 20.5cm
  • Width: 20.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signed 'Hertz and Wegener in Berlin'
Credit line
Given by Miss Julia Montefiore
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a square coloured grid embroidery design of a bird of paradise on a branch for Berlin wool work. Berlin wool work is embroidery with Berlin wools or any type of thread or beads on canvas by means of copying a coloured chart known as a Berlin pattern. Almost exclusively confined to the 19th century, Berlin wool derived its name from the wool that came from Merino sheep in Saxony. It was taken to Gotha to be spun and on to Berlin to be dyed. The production of this wool was discontinued in the 1930s. Prior to the introduction of Berlin patterns it was very rare to find any indication about the choice of colour or threads. Berlin patterns were always coloured by hand at first, until the emergence of industrial printing techniques. The names of a few Berlin pattern makers are often seen on examples such as here with Hertz and Wegener. Others include L.W.Wittich, Carl F.W.Wicht, A.Todt and G.E.Falbe. Unfortunately no records remain about these printers and hence very little is known about them.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1915, London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1916.
Collection
Accession number
E.3727-1915

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Record createdFebruary 20, 2007
Record URL
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