Not currently on display at the V&A

Cover

1840-1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Plain weave linen [?], probably hand woven, embroidered with silk in straight, stem and buttonhole stitches and needleweaving and silk and metal thread in pulled thread work; whitework.
Despite the inclusion of metal thread and coloured silks, this piece could still be included in the whitework category.
The central area has four triangular corner units of pulled thread in lozenges and triangles employing white silk or two threads of metal thread; the motifs being outlined in stem stitch in either coral red [faded] or light green silk. These colours and the two threads of metal thread frame the complete corner units. From remaining sides a globular, long necked vase worked alternately in white or metal thread pulled thread, bearing 3 flowering stems in yellow or white with red centres in straight stitch, point inwards to the small central octagonal on a metal thread pulled work, edged with coral red and green. Small floral motifs in straight stitch in red or white with green stems and leaves decorated the remaining space.
This central area is then framed with a wide composite border of:
[a] a needlewoven narrow zigzag band
[b] a row of 8-pointed stars/flowerheads in straight stitch with a straight stitch coloured flower stem in each corner
[c] as [a]
[d] a wide band of pulled thread hexagons with the remaining triangular spaces decorated with a floral stem in red, green and yellow.
[e] as [a]
[f] as [b] with the coloured flower stem in each corner
[g] as [a].
A line of faded coral red stem stitch and 2 threads of metal thread finishes the border.
The three raw edges are rolled and secured with buttonhole stitch.

Linen [?] thread: Z-spun
Embroidery Thread: white, light green, yellow, faded coral red silk; 2S
Metal Thread: silver strip close S-wound on white silk core.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
linen yarn [?], silk thread, metal thread, weaving, embroidering, whitework
Brief description
embroidered, 1800s, Persian; Whitework
Physical description
Plain weave linen [?], probably hand woven, embroidered with silk in straight, stem and buttonhole stitches and needleweaving and silk and metal thread in pulled thread work; whitework.
Despite the inclusion of metal thread and coloured silks, this piece could still be included in the whitework category.
The central area has four triangular corner units of pulled thread in lozenges and triangles employing white silk or two threads of metal thread; the motifs being outlined in stem stitch in either coral red [faded] or light green silk. These colours and the two threads of metal thread frame the complete corner units. From remaining sides a globular, long necked vase worked alternately in white or metal thread pulled thread, bearing 3 flowering stems in yellow or white with red centres in straight stitch, point inwards to the small central octagonal on a metal thread pulled work, edged with coral red and green. Small floral motifs in straight stitch in red or white with green stems and leaves decorated the remaining space.
This central area is then framed with a wide composite border of:
[a] a needlewoven narrow zigzag band
[b] a row of 8-pointed stars/flowerheads in straight stitch with a straight stitch coloured flower stem in each corner
[c] as [a]
[d] a wide band of pulled thread hexagons with the remaining triangular spaces decorated with a floral stem in red, green and yellow.
[e] as [a]
[f] as [b] with the coloured flower stem in each corner
[g] as [a].
A line of faded coral red stem stitch and 2 threads of metal thread finishes the border.
The three raw edges are rolled and secured with buttonhole stitch.

Linen [?] thread: Z-spun
Embroidery Thread: white, light green, yellow, faded coral red silk; 2S
Metal Thread: silver strip close S-wound on white silk core.
Dimensions
  • Length: 50cm
  • One selvedge width: 52.5cm
Bibliographic reference
Published in 'Iranian Textiles' by Jennifer Wearden and Patricia L Baker (V&A Publishing, 2010) Plate 45.
Collection
Accession number
2361-1876

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Record createdJune 10, 2008
Record URL
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