Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-20
An.i.n, Art Needlawork.

Last week highly Interesting eShl-
hition of ancient English and other art
nsedlework was held in London az the
royal school, South Kensington. "The
exhibition" said the London NeTs. "is
exceptionally rich in rare and curious
specimens, lent by religious houses anu
private families, in whose possession
MANY of them have remained for CEN
turtles. Some OF the work is OF great an
tiauity, having been rescued from the
tombs OF dead and gone Bishops and
Abbots. There are pieces OF silk, EN-.
broidered in gold thread with ettgies oil
crowned and sceptered kings, from the
coffin of Bishop de Blois, and others
from the tomb OF Walter de Cantilupe,
both OF the early part of the thirteenth
century, loaned by the Dean and chap
ter of Worcester. OF still earlier date
are the fragments loaned by Lady Cath.
crime Berkeley. These are OF the old
English work known as opus Angelica.
num- and more recently as chain stitch.
Many OF the finest pieces exhibited are
of the opus Anglicanum, made first on
separate bits OF cloth or canvas, and
then appliques to some rich, heavy WOW
en- material, such as cloth or gold or vel
vet. The Scion cope is OF this kind,
with the addition OF orfreys worked in
tent and cross. stitch. A fine illustration
of the opus plumariunl' or feather
stitch, is supplied by the cope OF red
velvet and gold tissue Of the fifteenth
century. The fine needlework has eyi-
IDENTIFY all been made separately and
laid on with gold-thread couchings.
The hood is embroidered with the An
nunciation OF the Virgin and the orfreys
from other events from the New Testa-
ment. This wonderful preserved piece
OF fifteenth century work is lent by the
Principal OF Stonehurst College. Clti-
Gems OF london will look with increased
interest on the splendid pail OF cloth OF
gold and purple velvet lent by the Vint-
ner's Company (27), and used when
distinguished members receive the high
est honor that can be paid them by the
guild. The work is of the latter part OF
the fifteenth century. The border 10 OF
purple velvet with Applications OF en-
broidery in various stitches, the designs
representing heraldic shields, punches
OF grapes and leaves, groups OF the Viz
gin with dead Christ, Death digging,e etc.
At one end OF the pail is seen st. Martin
attired as a cavalier, dividing his cloak
with the beggsr, and at the other the
same saint in full canonicals as Bishop
OF Tours. Another fine pail oil red vel
vet and cloth of gold is lent by the rec
tor of Dunstable. Lady Catherine
Berkeley lends Bible and prayer book
once owned by Charles l., with red vel
vet covers richly embroidered in god
and silver thread-work in relief, with
the ROYAL arms, rose and thistle, and &.
X. Lord Middleton contributes among
other things some fine Spanish embroid-
cry i'm black on white linen, AMI in gold,
black and silver thread, also upon white
linen. One very fine linen cape is en-
broidered with black silk in sort OF in
terlscing, or, as it were, skeleton diaper
pattern, and edged with a plated and
twisted white thread border OF bone
lace There are numerous samples OF
curious raised work once popular, and
also OF the slightly raised or bas relief
produced by the application OF a hst
iron-a proof, il any be wanting, that
detestable taste or want OF taste is not
an exclusive attribute OF modern times.
There Is no lack OF beautiful quilted
work long superseded by machine-made
'Marseilles, nor would an ancient dandy
complain OF scarcity OF the embroider-
ed waistcoats, worn with the older fash.
toned coat dresses, and the last relic OF
splendor retained by the male OF the
genus bimanar."