Picture
Object name
Date made
Circa 1900
Place made
Description
Circa 1900 silkwork picture of a flowering and fruiting tree upon which sits a bird. The picture is worked in an array of pink silk threads on a white silk ground.
Content description
Circa 1900 silkwork picture of a flowering and fruiting tree with a bird atop it. The picture is worked in an array of pink silk threads on a white silk ground. Stitches include long and short, satin, stem, slanted stem, straight, fly, fly stitch filling, cross bar filling trellis, spaced cross stitch filling, cloud filling, fishbone, trellis, and herringbone, as well as variations on some of those stitches. The tree, branches, leaves, fruit, petals, and bird are primarily worked in long and short, satin, stem, and slanted stem, whereas the more decorative filling stitches are worked within some of the flower structures and the bird's body. Though many of the flowers and fruits are stylised and therefore purposefully unidentifiable, it is possible to identify a trio of pears in the bottom left corner.
The picture's composition, specifically the undulating tree branches and large, stylised flowers, is reminiscent of Jacobean crewelwork. It is likely that the maker of this object took inspiration from the Jacobean crewelwork revival, which took place in the final decades of the 19th century and the early 20th century, but chose to depict the motifs in silk shading on silk instead of in wool threads on linen.
The picture's composition, specifically the undulating tree branches and large, stylised flowers, is reminiscent of Jacobean crewelwork. It is likely that the maker of this object took inspiration from the Jacobean crewelwork revival, which took place in the final decades of the 19th century and the early 20th century, but chose to depict the motifs in silk shading on silk instead of in wool threads on linen.
Dimensions
width: 104cm
height: 56cm
height: 56cm
Materials
Stitches
Long and short stitch 
Satin stitch
Stem stitch
Slanted satin stitch
Straight stitch
Fly stitch
Fly stitch filling
Cross bar filling trellis
Spaced cross stitch filling
Cloud filling stitch
Fishbone stitch
Trellis
Herringbone stitch

Satin stitch

Stem stitch

Slanted satin stitch

Straight stitch

Fly stitch

Fly stitch filling

Cross bar filling trellis

Spaced cross stitch filling

Cloud filling stitch

Fishbone stitch

Trellis

Herringbone stitch

Techniques
Motifs
Catalogue number
RSN.91
© Royal School of Needlework