Panel with Leek Embroidery

Panel of Leek embroidery worked by Frances Mary Templeton, 1892. Copyright Victoria & Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.38-1953.

A fine example of Leek embroidery is held in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Leek embroidery, promoted by the Leek Embroidery Society, which was founded in 1879/1880 by Elizabeth Wardle, is characterised by embroidery being worked over a printed ground material.

This example, measuring 78.8 x 78.8 cm, was reputedly worked by Frances Mary Templeton from Scotland (Helensburgh), whose brother-in-law was in charge of the firm of Anderson and Robertson Ltd. (which was active between 1877 and 1964), which provided the silk fabrics for the Leek embroideries.

The embroidery on a silk ground with silk and gold threads is carried out in satin and stem stitches, with laid and couched threads. The patterns recall early eighteenth century chintzes from India and comparable patterns from India produced for the Western markets in the nineteenth century.

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 4 September 2016).

Last modified on Wednesday, 15 March 2017 19:14

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