Accession Number

983.294

Description

A dark yellow cotton table cover decorated with large crewel work flowers. Around this is a wide gold velvet border. The flowers are in shades of cream, orange, green and yellow. The cotton support fabric has a textured crescent shaped weave.

Narrative

The decoration on this table cover is done in crewel work, a style of surface embroidery characterized by the use of wool threads. A free embroidery technique, the design is drawn or transferred onto a support fabric, traditionally a tight weave cotton twill to support the weight of the wool, and then stitched over using a large variety of stitches. Generally the design only covers a portion of the support fabric. The variety of stitches and techniques used in crewel work results in a textured and vibrant effect. Crewel work is strongly associated with English Jacobean embroidery designs that feature stylized floral and animal designs, although the technique can be used with any style of design.

Date

circa 1895

Dimensions

144.2 x 132.2 cm

Material

Fabric, silk, velvet; Fabric, cotton; Thread, wool

Technique

Embroidered