Dresden Work

Fragment of Dresden work. Fragment of Dresden work.

Dresden work is a form of pulled work and whitework, and very popular in eighteenth century Europe. It was produced in various countries, including Germany, France, Britain, and also in America. It is a combination of pulled work and embroidery, somewhat comparable to Indian chikan work.

The designs of Dresden work include floral patterns, as in chikan, but also tendrils, ribbons and flower baskets. More fanciful motifs, such as coral, seaweed and shells, were also used, as in examples from eighteenth century America. The stitch often being used is the satin stitch.

It may originally have been developed as a cheap substitute for lace, but over the years it acquired its wide attraction, partly also because it could be worked on the object itself, rather than applying pieces of lace to the textile or garment to be decorated.

Also known as Point de Saxe or Point de Dresde.

Source: TOOMER, Heather, and Elspeth REED (2008). Embroidered with White: The Eighteenth Century Fashion for Dresden Lace and Other Whiteworked Accessories. Private publication (review).

Digital source of illustration (retrieved 6 July 2016).

WV

Last modified on Tuesday, 03 January 2017 17:15
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