Featured Are these needlepoint ?

Found these 2 little 7 by 6" embroidered type pictures

They were only £1.50 each, but quite liked them for some reason, one of them almost looks in the style of impressionism(if that doesn't sound stupid !)

Don't know how to describe them

Back says they were framed in 1980

Any help appreciated

 

Most examples I'm finding look hideous like this



This is the only other one I could find that I liked and was in the same type

 

Yes, various embroidery stitches. Likely came from a kit. Not for the newbie.

Debora

 

Thanks for the info deb

The mass majority of the ones I've been looking at are awfull

I guess with most mediums there are good and bad examples

Hopefully mine are in the good variety

As They don't make me feel like they are unfit for mine eye

 

There are a number of types of embroidery. Yours appears to be crewel work. Here's something similar (but not as nice.)

Debora

 

Ahh interesting thanks, helpful

The work Looks quite thick up close



They were framed in 1980, but wondering if they were made earlier

 

Leslie (@Northern Lights Lodge ) might offer some more help too, Charlie!!

 

Great idea! Much more knowledgable than I.

Debora

 

Thanks aqui

 

Crewel embroidery & tole painting were fads in the early 70s, in there with latch hooking.

 

Charlie the ones you like are crewel, done on a peice of material

the ones you don't like are on canvas or plastic

 

I think they were likely made not long before they were framed.
I remember my mother doing many crewel work projects in the late 1970s and taking them to the framers.

 

Thanks for the info matahari

Must be CRUEL on the hands as well !!, looks like it would take a while

 

An interesting, brief history of crewel work:
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/4850/crewel-embroidery

Most modern crewel embroidery is worked with a needle, rather than the fine hook described in the article.

 

Hi Charlie,
I totally agree... crewel work! It did hit a peak during the 70's when kits were offered with supplies and pre stamped canvasses. Of course, it was done much earlier; but hit a resurgence in the 70's. Nicely done pieces... although they do look a wee bit faded.
Leslie

 

An interesting and helpful read, thanks tmb

 

Cool thanks leslie and everyone else, another item that I have found and learned more about

From looking around its the Jacobean ones, even ones done in a jacobean style can fetch ok money

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Yes, Jacobean are harder to find. I live in the states and in fact have only "found" one (it was in a private collection; that I was called to identify). She had no idea what she had! It is classified as "stumpwork" although there is certainly crewel work in it.

Lordie it was incredible! IN-credible! The little 6" x 8" design was absolutely CRAMMED into an old (early 1800's?) frame - the plain silk fabric hanging out the edges of the wood backing.

Oddly enough it was in decent condition... albiet it had dirt and bugs between the glass and the needlework. There was water/condensation marks on the wood back board and the fabric which was hanging out - but gratefully none on the inside of the frame.

It had come down through the generations on her mother's side (English) - and knew it had belonged to her great grandmother. Since the Jacobean scene dated from the 1700's - I rather think that it had been passed down further generations; than just her great grandmother.

She did have it professionally matted and framed ... AND cleaned by a conservator. I unfortunatly only have ONE lovely photo of it. As I said the piece was about 6" x 8" - with another couple inch surround of plain fabric. The central figure (a female) was dressed in typical 1700's dress with blonde curly hair in ringlets and holding a yellow Tudor rose. She was standing on a dais, surrounded by the most wonderful menagerie of HUGE oversize flowers and out of proportioned bugs and critters! I remember a caterpiller and a butterfly (It was some time back that I encountered it). Anyway, I'll see if I can post the close up photo that I have... (pause)...found it!! By the way; the photo was taken in dim light and was taken before it had been cleaned and reframed.

As you can tell by the size of the penny - in relation to the stitches... the stitches are quite minute! Yet the proportion of the leaf to the dress is way out of kilter! You can see the woman's dress to the left.

I think that it was all silk... but there may have been some other fibers used like wool - I can't remember any more it was too long ago.

I felt fairly certain that this had been made for/ or had once been part of a "casket" (in the sense of a jewelry safe) - which may have looked like the photo below and for some reason was either A. Never assembled or B. Was assembled, used and at some point taken apart, panels divided and repurposed into framed work. It was always sort of my guess... that IF this piece had been handed down through the family of the needle worker and IF it had been part of a casket; that perhaps by the time it was 2 or 3 generations removed - that they took it apart to divide an estate. BUT, that's probably just my own romantic notion. Anyway the following pic is what it may have been part of IF it had been made for a casket.

I'd always hoped to encounter a piece that was for sale... but as yet, I've not. You must post should you be lucky enough to find a piece!
Cheerio Leslie