Border

Object name

Border

Date made

Late 16th century

Place made

Probably Italy

Description

Late 16th-century linen cutwork border or band, likely produced in Italy.

Content description

Late 16th-century linen cutwork border or band with couching, satin stitches, eyelet stitches, and overcast bars (cutwork), likely produced in Italy. Quadratic counted stitch cutwork motifs are interspersed with couched, punto riccio/curl stitch, and satin stitch leaves. Double faggot filling stitches have been used throughout. The drawn stitch edge at bottom is hemmed, whereas the top edge has been cut. These edges are adorned with a series of drawn thread wrapped bars. There are whip stitched seams every 20 centimetres connecting pieces of the linen ground. The red backing is likely 20th century and has been applied to several other early modern cutwork borders in the Royal School of Needlework collection.