Not currently on display at the V&A

Border

1800-1899 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours of 18th and 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but many have faded to pleasing pastel shades; often great quantities of metal thread were used. Napkins were mainly used to clean fingers during meals, but were also used as decoration and as covers. Their designs were consistently inventive.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton, embroidered with silk in double running in steps and double running variations
Brief description
A cotton sash embroidered with silk, Turkey, 19th century
Physical description
Border, cotton embroidered with silk in double running in steps and double running variations. There is one motif, repeated side-by-side: it is a diagonal stem with three pink flowers, each with six petals, four smaller blue flowers, three white leaves and some small yellow leaves.
There is evidence that a second width was originally attached along the selvedge.
One sidehas been cut and hemmed.
Dimensions
  • Length: 90cm
  • Width: 36cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Mr Lionel Harris
Subject depicted
Summary
At the end of the 18th century embroidery designs began to develop into rigid and heavily stylised borders for towels and napkins. The colours of 18th and 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but many have faded to pleasing pastel shades; often great quantities of metal thread were used. Napkins were mainly used to clean fingers during meals, but were also used as decoration and as covers. Their designs were consistently inventive.
Bibliographic reference
Illustrated in 'Ottoman Embroidery' by Marianne Ellis and Jennifer Wearden (V&A Publication, 2001); plate 126
Collection
Accession number
T.114-1926

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2001
Record URL
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