Page 74 - Homes & Antiques (February 2020)
P. 74
LEFT Silk embroidered
memorial attributed
to Clara Lothrop
Massachusetts, 1809,
£4,300, Stephen &
Carol Huber.
BELOW Pair of oval
Georgian silkwork
embroideries,
£1,015, Madelena.
COLLECTING ‘Silk embroidered
pictures became
SILKWORK fashionable in the
late 18th century.’
EMBROIDERIES
of the expense of both schooling and
Elegant and highly collectable, antique materials. ‘Normal working people
needlework artworks embody both didn’t have time to spend doing this
kind of thing,’ points out Ben. ‘Some
cra!smanship and creativity were improvised ‘free style’ designs,
but lots of them were bought as kits
There’s something u!erly around 1630-1650 and can fetch – you’d get a pa!ern and a piece of
captivating about silkwork £50,000 at auction,’ he reveals. silk pre-painted with certain
embroideries. Each %ower – every ‘A stumpwork casket is the holy background elements like the sky.
face – has been so meticulously grail of silk embroidery.’ The embroiderer would then stitch
stitched by hand that as your eye Small embroideries from the late on top to complete the scene,’ he adds.
scans the intricate pa!erns and 18th and early 19th centuries
pictures for meaning, you soon #nd are much easier to get hold of. ‘Silk Tips For Collectors
you’re as intrigued by the individuals embroidered pictures became very As they were all stitched by di"erent
who stitched these decorative items fashionable in the late 18th century people, there aren’t speci#c makers
as you are by the compelling and in both England and America,’ says to look out for like there are in other
colourful scenes they’ve depicted. specialist dealer Stephen Huber. areas of antiques collecting.
Seventeenth-century embroideries ‘Compositions were varied and ‘You can pick them up for nothing
do come onto the market from time included bucolic scenes and when they’re damaged,’ says Ben.
to time, but they’re rare and historical happenings. These ‘The silk backing is very fragile so
command huge prices. Ben Tulk, beautiful pictures were created by it’s o$en split or stained – a less-than-
dealer at Madelena Antiques and young women, usually aged between perfect one can be as li!le as £20. The
Collectables, says that ‘stumpwork’ 10 and 20, at schools and academies.’ price goes up as the condition gets
(raised embroidery) caskets are They were mostly created by be!er. The subject, rarity and
always desirable. ‘They date from middle and upper-class girls because complexity of the design all add to
74 Homes & Antiques February 2020
