For the few who study early embroidery,
It was delightful to read Jane's August 13th memo about the Feller Sampler
exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum. I have visited this museum 2 times,
and found much thread work in the regular collection to be of interest.
Both times it was arranged that a staff member open storage drawers to show
pieces at rest.
http://www.ashmolean.org/exhibitions/eyeoftheneedle/
In case you think I neglected to ever tell you about the Feller
Collection, see my 2012 memo by going to our Arachne archives and putting
Feller
Collection in the Search box:
http://www.mail-archive.com/lace@arachne.com/index.html
Due to this exhibition, the 2 books might soon be out-of-print and the
prices will rise. If you are interested, act now. The lead author of the
first book is Mary M. Brooks (curator of this exhibition at the Ashmolean),
co-authored by Elizabeth Feller and Jacqueline Holdsworth. Book 2 is by
Elizabeth Feller. Titles are Micheal Elizabeth Feller - The Needlework
Collection: 1 (215 pages, 2011) and Micheal Elizabeth Feller - The
Needlework
Collection: 2 (290 pages, 2012). If you want these books and you are in the
U.S., I suggest you call my friend Ruth Kern to see if she has any in
stock. Leave a message at 1-800-429-5075 and use my name. She will call
back.
Elizabeth Fuller dedicates the second book To my dearest and most admired
late Grandmother, Mammy Christie. Thank you for teaching me needle and
thread, I owe much to you.
I, Jeri, wonder if her Grandmother was Mrs. Archibald Christie, whose 1912
book Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving and 1920 book Samplers and
Stitches were mandatory purchases for embroiderers like me in the mid-20th
century, when few embroidery books were available. If anyone could ask at the
Ashmolean, I'd like to know if there is a family connection.
I still recommend seeing the Goodhart Samplers at Montacute House, which is
an Elizabethan mansion west of London. G**gle to see. Contact first, to
be sure some of the samplers and stumpworks are on display. I was told
they rotate them. I think 1/3 at a time is on view. They are hung in a dark
hallway to protect the colored threads. Suggest you take a magnifier and
a torch (British for flashlight). Be sure to enjoy the entire property.
There have been 2 books, one long out-of-print One Man's Samplers by
Douglas Goodhart (booklet size, 48 pages), the other titled The Goodhart
Samplers by Phelan, Hansson, Holdsworth (large hardback, 263 pages, and
preferred). My 2009 and 2012 reviews are in Arachne archives under Goodhart
Samplers.
Witney Antiques, in Witney (in the Cotswolds west of London), offers
regular exhibits of samplers and related needlework items, some of which may be
purchased. It was in June this year, and celebrated their 50th year in
business. They publish catalogs to go with their exhibits. My library
contains 19 of them. Search Witney Antiques.
Finally, if you used the address to visit the Ashmolean's on-line pages
about the Feller exhibit, did you notice embroidered depictions of lace shoe
roses and lace ruffles below King Ahasuerus's knees - maybe knee sashes or
gathered lace that has been attached to boot liners spilling out of the top
of boots? His clothing (seen on page 44, Book 1) reflects 17th century
male fashions. The kneeling female is Esther, pleading for the safety of her
people. Book of Esther 1-7, Bible.
Wishing you happy travels.
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
In a message dated 8/13/2014, janefr...@googlemail.com writes:
I'm just back from the Eye of the Needle exhibition at the Ashmolean
Museum, Oxford (UK). Perhaps its because I'm a lace maker not an
embroiderer but - Wow!
The exhibition is of embroidery from the Feller collection. I've no
idea who Elizabeth and Micheal Feller are, but they have a fantastic
collection.
Everything was from the 17th century, roughly the Stuart period, (a
bit of very late Elizabethan, then James I and Charles I) and
included a selection of samplers, biblical pictures (and it was
amusing to see Solomon looking very much like Charles I and biblical
characters dressed in Stuart costume), allegorical themes, a little
clothing (coifs, hats, gloves) and household goods (stools,
chatelaine, boxes) and so on. There were about 60 pieces in all.
I was struck by the quality of the designs, the exquisite
workmanship, and how fine the work was. Tent stitch was worked on
linen fabric over 1 thread, then in the more elaborate pieces was
combined with decorative stitches, stumpwork, raised needlepoint and
bead work.
There wasn't any lace, except for one unusual, slightly scruffy
edging on a beautiful box. I guess the period was a bit early for
bobbin lace. However, the needlepoint and whitework were so fine
