William Morris and a Milos Pholegandros Embroidery

Embroidered border from the island of Milos Pholegandros, Cyclades, Greece. Embroidered border from the island of Milos Pholegandros, Cyclades, Greece. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.121-1939.

Milos Pholegandros is an island in the Greek Cyclades archipelago. This particular embroidery from the island dates to the eighteenth century. It was probably originally part of a valance. It is made on a linen ground with coloured silk threads. The embroidery was carried out using chain stitch, cross stitch, long-armed cross stitch, darning stitch and satin stitch.

The piece was owned by the English designer and founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris (1834-1896). The object was bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1939 by his daughter May Morris. According to the Museum records it was acquired by Morris at the same time as two pieces of Cretan embroidery that Morris in 1876 sent to the English textile manufacturer, Thomas Wardle (1831-1909), with the message: “Mrs Wardle will find some stitches in them worth looking at.” Wardle’s wife was a well-known embroideress.

V&A online catalogue (retrieved 11th July 2015)

GVE

Last modified on Monday, 30 January 2017 12:33
Published in Daily and general garments and textiles
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