The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day [Paperback]

Thomasina Beck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

Explore the rich history of the age-old art of embroidery with this exquisitely illustrated and spellbinding volume. Embroiderers from Elizabethan times to the present day are brought vividly to life through the use of a wide array of sources, including books, diaries, paintings, and of course embroideries. Inspiration, design, and the changing uses of needlework are discussed in detail. The impact of new tools and materials are described in their social context-- from the first truly sharp scissors and needles in Elizabethan times to the sewing machine and photocopier of the twentieth century. Samplers show how successive generations learned their craft, and motifs from their work and from long-lost patterns books are reproduced and adapted for modern usage.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

To re-create the lives of accomplished embroiderers about whom little is known, Beck surveys historical writings in the form of diaries, biographies, and novels. From the Renaissance to more recent periods, Beck's research yields a panorama of individual portraits that depict the girls and women responsible for much of the fine needlework pictured: elaborate samplers, bookbindings, ornate tapestries, and garments embellished with exquisite patterns. Profusely illustrated with examples of the art form that has survived throughout centuries, the book includes reproductions of pages from rare tomes and oil paintings depicting interiors and richly detailed clothing. With these images Beck offers an expansive trove of design sources for contemporary embroiderers in a solid and inspiring resource. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715309625
• ISBN-13: 978-0715309629
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,725,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations, but hard to follow, November 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day (Hardcover)

Thomasina's book is full of beautiful illustrations, examples, and photos, but it is rather hard to read. There seem to be no clear cut examples or divisions between the different embroidery ages, except the chapters themselves. I have found myself going back and saying, "Now what made the Stuart embroiderers distinctive?" I only wish that there were some sort of summary at the end of each chapter to clarify each 'age,' because there is so much information mentioned in each chapter. There were also items and names mentioned throughout the book that needed further clarification, such as the history of a sweetbag. Where did that come from? As I said before though, it is full of beautiful illustrations and could serve as a helpful guide in designing reproduction patterns. It would also make a good coffee table book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift book for the Needleworkers in Your Life, June 8, 2000

By 

drdebs (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day (Paperback)

If you are looking for a gift for a needleworker, either yourself or someone you like, consider buying this book for them. It is a beautiful walk through the history of needlecrafting from the Renaissance (mainly in England), and it has beautiful pictures and an engaging text. The reader will have a better understanding of how the needlearts effected all aspects of material culture in the periods considered. Here needlework is treated as a long continuum of women's interests and knowledge, along with the variations that made eachperiod unique. Great for history buffs, too!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like eating chocolate!, September 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day (Hardcover)

I only wished for more graphics of her source material. Think this book would interest any needleworker who also loved to read English history (in spite of the title, it's mostly about England). Whenever one looks at history from a unique POV, in this case needlework, one's understanding is deepened. It could also be subtitled: "How rich women wasted time".