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Cushion Cover

1899 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cushion cover was designed by Jessie Newbery and worked by Edith Rowat. It is embroidered with a symmetrical design of roses. The linen background is embroidered with wool in stem and satin stitches and French knots.

Jessie Newbery was the daughter of a Paisley shawl manufacturer and studied at the Glasgow School of Art. In 1889 she married the principal of the School, Francis Newbery. In 1894 she began to teach embroidery there. At first she was inspired by the work of William Morris and the Royal School of Art Needlework Department. But within a short time she developed her own style using appliqué with heavy linen and cotton fabrics and a minimum of stitching. She believed that this experimental method would result in more imaginative work. Her characteristic motif of a circular rose as well as her lettering was typical of the Glasgow School.

Much of Newbery's work was published in the British periodical The Studio, yet during her own lifetime her work was more respected abroad than in Britain. Ann Macbeth, one of Newbery's students, is also well known for doing embroidery in this style. She replaced Newbery as embroidery instructor at the Glasgow School of Art in 1908.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered linen with wools
Brief description
Cushion cover of embroidered linen, designed by Jessie Newbery, embroidered by Edith Rowat, Glasgow, 1899
Physical description
Cushion cover of embroidered cream linen with pink, brown and green wools in a design of rosettes and water lilies. The stitches include stem, satin and French knots.
Dimensions
  • Length: 70cm
  • Width: 68.6cm
  • Length: 27.5in
  • Width: 27in
Credit line
Given by Mrs M. M. Sturrock and Mrs Lang
Summary
This cushion cover was designed by Jessie Newbery and worked by Edith Rowat. It is embroidered with a symmetrical design of roses. The linen background is embroidered with wool in stem and satin stitches and French knots.

Jessie Newbery was the daughter of a Paisley shawl manufacturer and studied at the Glasgow School of Art. In 1889 she married the principal of the School, Francis Newbery. In 1894 she began to teach embroidery there. At first she was inspired by the work of William Morris and the Royal School of Art Needlework Department. But within a short time she developed her own style using appliqué with heavy linen and cotton fabrics and a minimum of stitching. She believed that this experimental method would result in more imaginative work. Her characteristic motif of a circular rose as well as her lettering was typical of the Glasgow School.

Much of Newbery's work was published in the British periodical The Studio, yet during her own lifetime her work was more respected abroad than in Britain. Ann Macbeth, one of Newbery's students, is also well known for doing embroidery in this style. She replaced Newbery as embroidery instructor at the Glasgow School of Art in 1908.
Collection
Accession number
T.64-1953

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Record createdSeptember 4, 2001
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