Broderie Anglaise II
Thought any readers I still have left (life is busy here), might like a look at this little treasure. It is a handmade dress and cape in Broderie Anglaise from the Sarah Carter Collection at Old Gippstown.
There is a full-size photograph HERE. It is a dress almost totally covered in hand-made Broderie Anglaise to fit a child about four (at a guess).
When I think about it, I can remember seeing photographs of children in dresses like this from the 1870s to the 1890s - maybe later. Must look at some of them again.
What also makes it more interesting is that I now know a little more about Broderie Anglaise. I was working in another collection, in another town, and we were looking at some similar items there, then another cataloguer talked about how it was made - her mother-in-law used to do it. They poked little holes with a spike she said, and then button-holed around the hole.
And, what was more, she still had her mother-in-law's tool. So she went home and brought it back:
This little pick (which is probably larger on the screen than in real life, was made from ivory. And, would you believe, this is just under 4cm long.
I am still waiting to see a piece of work from the original owner of this tool - that will be special indeed. I wonder do they have a proper name????
posted by Linda at 7:45 am
5 Comments:
That little dress is just wonderful. Amazing how much complexity and pattern can come from a little ivory spike, a needle, and some thread...
It's fun to check in at your blog because there is always something new and interesting to see!
Oh, my, that is gorgeous! So much work for a little girl's dress... without a washing machine to wash it with! Gah!
I am amazed that the little ivory tool survived... it's so small it could have easily been lost. I have a couple pieces of this kind of work and I have always wondered how they did it. Now I know! Thanks!
Fasinating Linda!
I always wondered how they made that fabric and lace.
We're still here checking your blog, seeing what finds you are coming across!
The little sewing tool is called a stilletto or an awl - you punch it in the fabric to make a hole and sew around the edge - like broderie anglais, I have some doilies etc. with this technique.....crazyhaberdasher
I'm still reading! I had some time issues last week, but I'm back. The dress is beautiful and that little thing is so small - only a little over an inch and a half! I don't know that I could even hold it securely, let alone use it usefully!
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