Bath Towel
1830-1870 (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 are strong and greater quantities of metal thread were used. The designs were consistently inventive. The colours in some 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but have faded to pleasing pastel shades.
Bath towels were woven with a looped pile. The idea was introduced into western Europe when it was copied by the Manchester firm of Christy and Sons about 1840.
Bath towels were woven with a looped pile. The idea was introduced into western Europe when it was copied by the Manchester firm of Christy and Sons about 1840.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen 2/2 twill with weft loops, embroidered with silk in double darning and double running in a line, and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal, fishbone and satin stitch |
| Brief description | Linen towel embroidered with silk and metal thread, Ottoman Turkey, 19th century |
| Physical description | Bath Towel, cut into two parts each with an end border. 2/2 linen twill with weft loops embroidered with silk in double darning and double running in a line and with metal thread in double darning on the diagonal, fishbone and satin stitch. Each border has a narrow band worked in metal thread above which are large, isolated sprigs which may be a stylised, segmented carnation in metal thread and pink with two hyacinth sprays in metal thread and blue silk. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| 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 are strong and greater quantities of metal thread were used. The designs were consistently inventive. The colours in some 19th century embroideries were originally very bright but have faded to pleasing pastel shades. Bath towels were woven with a looped pile. The idea was introduced into western Europe when it was copied by the Manchester firm of Christy and Sons about 1840. |
| Bibliographic reference | Illustrated in 'Ottoman Embroidery' by Marianne Ellis and Jennifer Wearden (V&A Publications, 2001); plate 107 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.451A-1910 |
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| Record created | March 26, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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