Not currently on display at the V&A

Napkin

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
Silk, embroidered with silk in double darning, double running in a line and hem stitch, and with plate in satin stitch
Brief description
Towel or napkin, embroidered, Turkish, 1800s.
Physical description
Towel/Napkin borders joined together, striped silk embroidered with silk in double darning, double running in a line and hem stitch, and with plate in satin stitch. Each border contains two complete and two partial motifs place between the stripes: the complete motif consists of a curved blue fish from whose mouth grows a large floral arrangment with a serrated blue leaf and pink flowers; the partial motif is actually a slim sprig with blue heart-shaped leaves and pink flowers.
Dimensions
  • Length: 80cm
  • Width: 50cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Mr Frank W. Taylor
Subjects 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 129
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.148-1929

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Record createdFebruary 2, 2001
Record URL
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