Other things I'm working on

Here's a finished piece of embroidery to be turned into a very small reliquary purse. The pattern, simple as it is, is in fact documentable (although perhaps not the colors) to the late 14th century German (Lower Saxony?) wallhanging that's on display at the Cloisters. Silk over cotton (I know, the cotton's not really appropriate, but in the end no one will see it). UPDATE: Here's a decent image of the whole piece, but not very detailed.

Beneath that is something a little more recognizable, based on (not stitch for stich, but the general pattern and approx. dimensions) one of the V&A Museum's purses, no. 8313-1863. This one I've done silk and linen on linen. I will include the gold thread eventually. For the pattern I have T. J. Mitchell's A Stitch out of Time to thank. Except for the portions underneath where the gold thread will go. That part I had to make up, so I'll take responsibility for that probably not being "right".

Unfortunately, I won't get a chance to work on these for a while – but that's only because I'm moving to the Czech Republic and it doesn't fit in my luggage. But it'll get sent out there at some point, and once I'm established and have a bit of time, I'll get back to it!

Pattern Redaction, part 2

So this is the pattern that I adapted from the extant piece in my previous post. Not much there yet, but I really like how it's coming out.

Pattern redaction, part 1

I'll say this again: Difficult up close, even harder using photographs, and migraine-inducing when using digital images (at least when the image resolution is so small that it's hard to distinguish between pixels and stitches).

There are a few areas that are obscured in the photo (this is IRPA Obj# 43380) but I have the main motif worked out. I've adapted it to be repetitive, so that I can use it on its own, but at some point I hope to work out the whole thing. May need to wait until I can visit it in person though.

Here's my redaction thus far (colours are not meant to be exact):

A new old book for me!

Got my hands on a copy Boudet and Gomond's La Passementerie. Now it is time to brush up on my français.

Just because I haven't been posting...

...doesn't mean I'm not working!

- I've finally made myself some silk gimp (made two attempts).
- Attempted a Turk's Head knot with one length of gimp, although it turned out to not be long enough to make a substantial knot.
- Embroidery continues.
- Occasionally working on redacting embroidery patterns from a few extant pieces (although this is made extra difficult by the fact that the only sources I have are digital versions of conservators' photos..).

In the near future I hope to be doing a trial run of the - for lack of better terminology - woven purse seams (as per L.S.'s research).

I will post pictures of some of these things as soon as I'm able.. for the one or two people who read this blog ;-)

More good pictures

Another good one from the Royal Institute for the Study and Conservation of Belgium's Artistic Heritage webpage: An embroidered trapezoidal ring-framed purse (object 40752). Check out all the additional images; there are pictures of the individual pieces of textile (did they deconstruct it?!) and also a shot of the drawstring mouth (usually hidden under the flap). A close-up of the embroidery is included as well. All good pictures; just wish they were larger.

The internet IS still useful!

Royal Institute for the Study and Conservation of Belgium's Artistic Heritage

Object search for beurs reveals many many interesting finds, particularly this gem: Object 10359

The photographer (bless him!) took a picture of the side of the piece:


Take a look at the frontal pictures, particularly the drawstrings. I wonder if those large turks-head knops are not in fact part of the drawstring, but there to aid opening the bag.. in which case the drawstrings appear to pass through a hole in the center of each.

Go out and buy...

...Olaf Goubitz's Purses in Pieces: Archaeological Finds of Late Medieval and 16th-century Leather Purses, Pouches, Bags and Cases in the Netherlands.

Have you seen me?

I found this image a few years ago somewhere online. I can't remember what site, or how I found myself there. Thus I have no data for this object. If you have any idea what museum/collection this purse is in, please please PLEASE let me know! Thanks!