Picture
Object name
Date made
Second half 19th century
Place made
Description
Berlin wool work picture with bright flowers, dating to the second half of the 19th century.
Content description
Berlin wool work picture with bright flowers, dating to the second half of the 19th century. Worked entirely in cross stitches. Stitched on canvas with a variety of vibrant wool threads. The picture illustrates a floral arrangement with rosebuds, gerbera daisies, anemones, thistles, and blue leaves.
Berlin wool work was a very popular style of embroidery in Europe throughout the 19th century, especially in the middle and later decades. It developed in Germany and rapidly spread across Europe and North America. Berlin wool work often involved brightly coloured threads, which were newly affordable thanks to the advent of aniline dyes. These colourful threads were made of wool, which were used to stitch on a canvas grid either in tent stitch or in cross stitch. Printed and hand-coloured patterns such as this one were inexpensive and distributed widely. Because Berlin wool work uses simple stitches and relied on inexpensive materials and patterns, it was accessible to embroiderers across a wide range of incomes and skill levels. This object is very likely the work of a woman in the home.
Berlin wool work was a very popular style of embroidery in Europe throughout the 19th century, especially in the middle and later decades. It developed in Germany and rapidly spread across Europe and North America. Berlin wool work often involved brightly coloured threads, which were newly affordable thanks to the advent of aniline dyes. These colourful threads were made of wool, which were used to stitch on a canvas grid either in tent stitch or in cross stitch. Printed and hand-coloured patterns such as this one were inexpensive and distributed widely. Because Berlin wool work uses simple stitches and relied on inexpensive materials and patterns, it was accessible to embroiderers across a wide range of incomes and skill levels. This object is very likely the work of a woman in the home.
Dimensions
width: 52.5cm
height: 52.5cm
height: 52.5cm
Materials
Stitches
Techniques
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.2792
© Royal School of Needlework