Welcome

Gathering the Jewels features over 30,000 images of objects, books, letters, aerial photographs and other items from museums, archives and libraries throughout Wales.

Search the map

Thumbnail image of Wales,

New to Gathering the Jewels is G.I.S. A geographical search facility that will enable searching by location and place name.

Topics

Home » Arts and Culture » Decorative arts » Embroidery

Displaying results 1 to 6 out of 15

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Next >

  • This special type of raised embroidery, known as 'stump work', was extremely popular during the mid 17th century. This rare example depicts the tale of the tragic lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe. The embroidery shows the lovers, the lion which leads to their separate deaths and the mulberry which blooms over them.
Pyramus and Thisbe stump work tapestry, c. 1650
A raised embroidery and kid leather glove, 1625
  • A big Georgian style house dominates this large sampler. It is flanked by two straight lines of trees with birds. The sampler border is of the acorn and oak leaf pattern, and there are other flower and tree designs scattered over it. The embroidered verse reads: 'For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad.' The Tree of Knowledge and figures of Adam and Eve are embroidered beneath the text. The sampler is inscribed 'Mary Lewis / work in the 13 / year of her age / July 2, 1834'. The words 'Miss' and 'Hughes's School' are embroidered on either side, at the bottom of the sampler. Embroidered in cross stitch, in coloured silks and cottons, on fine linen. Dimensions: 58cm x 55cm.
Sampler made by Mary Lewis, 2 July 1834
  • The centre of this sampler is embroidered with a large, grey school building. Underneath this building are the words ' A Representation of the National / School, Newchurch'. A verse is embroidered across the top of the sampler: 'As plants while tender bed which you please / And are though crooked first made straight with ease / Yet if those plants to their full stature grow / Irregular they'll break as soon as bow / So youth set right at first with ease go on / And each new task is with new pleasure done / But if neglected till they grow in years / And each fond mother her dear darling spares / Error becomes habitual and we find / Tis then hard labour to reform the mind.' Animals and trees, and a running border are also embroidered on this sampler. The maker has recorded her details beneath the building: 'The above was worked by Ann Stott, daughter of John and / Sarah Stott Sexton of St. Nicholas Church Newchurch at the / above school in the 13 year of her age.' Embroidered in cross stitch and satin stitch in coloured silks on linen. Dimensions: 59cm x 60 cm.
Sampler made by Ann Stott, Newchurch, Carmarthen, c. 1850
  • This sampler is dominated by two, centrally-placed, large colourful birds. Two cupids, dogs, stags and flowers are arranged around the large bird motifs. The maker embroidered her name and a verse in the centre of the sampler: 'Margaret Davies, aged 19 years 1853 and Adam said this / when my father and mother is now bone(sic) of / forsake me then shall the Lord shall take me up.' Carmarthenshire County Museum has another sampler by a Margaret Davies, who may be the same maker. It seems likely that the Margaret Davies' first language was Welsh, which is why her verse is incomplete. Most samplers were made by younger makers and it is unknown why Margaret Davies continued making samplers until she was nineteen, although she may have been a pupil teacher. Embroidered in cross stitch and satin stitch in coloured wools on double meshed canvas. Dimensions: 50cm x 69 cm.
Sampler made by Margaret Davies, Carmarthen, 1853
Drawstring bag embroidered by Sarah Ponsonby, one of 'The Ladies of Llangollen', 18th century