Bowes Museum Textiles

 When we arrived at the Bowes Museum I headed directly to the Fashion and Textiles gallery.

 

This intricate Stumpwork embroidery box, worked by young girls, dates from c 1650. The scene on the front is of the Biblical story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

This quilt, from 1810 -1815, is pieced from printed cotton fabric and panels sold specifically for patchwork.  It was made by Elizabeth Norman of Lowick, Northumberland.  The central panel of a basket of flowers was also used in a quilt made by Jane Austen in 1811.

This quilt is made from a variety of dress fabrics and these have been used to date it to circa 1850.  The chintz dates from the 1820s, the border fabric is late 1830s and the wave patterns and bright blues are typical of the mid 1840s.

Interestingly this smock was sold by Liberty & Co in the late 1920s.  It is a reference to the traditional handsmocking worked in rural England and was made at a time when the countryside was being romanticised and its styles and techniques were fashionable in the cities.

 These quilts were hanging temptingly in the "Cube".  On another occasion it would be possible to arrange to study them more closely.

This newborn baby's cap, made of linen and dating from the late 1500s is incredibly delicate and beautifully worked.  I am sorry I was not able to photograph it more clearly.  The finest linen thread was from Flanders and the decoration was done in cutwork.

This evening gown made by Madame Paquin in 1911 is a glorious confection of velvet silk, ivory satin, black net and beadwork, wouldn't it have been wonderful to wear a dress like this?

Tomorrow:  the exhibition of work by the 98 Lace Group....