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Design for Berlin Wool Work

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

This is an example of an abstract embroidery design 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.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleDesign for Berlin Wool Work
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and ink
Brief description
Design for Berlin wool work by Hertz and Wegener, Berlin, 19th century
Physical description
This is a square embroidery design signed Hertz and Wegener in the corner of a pale blue rectangular piece of paper in red, blue, green, pink, beige adn black. The design is abstract with some use of diamond shapes and chevrons in blue and beige.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10cm
  • Width: 14cm
Marks and inscriptions
Signed Hertz and Wegener Berlin
Credit line
Given by Lt. Col R G Elwes OBE
Summary
This is an example of an abstract embroidery design 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.
Collection
Accession number
E.1490-1959

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Record createdFebruary 20, 2007
Record URL
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