The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
RARE OLD EMBRO|DER|ES :,
EXHIBITED IN NEW YORK
Superb Collection of Art Work by
Court Ladies and Nuns of
Centuries Ago.
MORE. THAN 600 PIECES

NEW YORK, April 17.-Women who de-
light in needlework, as we'll as those inter
ested in the fine arts, cannot fail to take
pleasure in the display of magnificent tex
tiles and specimens of art needlework be-
ing shown at the American art galleries.
Six hundred and twenty-nine pieces are
numbered in the catalogue of the collection,
but these include case of silver of about
a dozen pieces and some laces. Each bit of
embroidery is a harmony of color and a
marvel of ingenious stitches. In the art
velvets there is evidence of equally clever
finger work.
In many of those called needlework pic
lures the drawing is exceedingly well done
Priestly vestments of the Greek and
other churches, court costumes, Florentine
carpets. tapestries. coverlets, purses, mis-
sal covers ducal ecussons and saddle trap
pings are some of the forms in which these
embroideries appear. BY women of the CEN
turtles from the twelfth to the eighteenth
they were wrought, high court DANES and
damses. and nuns. In many the colors are
apparently as undimmed as at first, and
each tint of the exquisite shading seems
to blend with the whole as effectively as
before.
The rarest piece in the collection, but
one fit only for a museum, is a relic of
Byzantine embroidery. 1t had an eccle-
saints emblems and inscriptions. and is
worked in gold thread and silks of subdued
tints.
tapestry picture done in the stitch known
as Point de Saint Cyr. The drawing on
this is considered to be triumph of
camp of Coriolanus, with the mother of
Coriolanus bowed at his feet. asking for
the safety OF Rome. The work is exceed
ingly delicate and the colors somewhat
pastel.
Truly splendid is a Tococo atlas frontal.
Gold and silver threads and many beauti-
full colored silks are used in working In a
design of flowers, birds animals, fruits.
insects and scrolls. The center is a finely
worked and unusually we'll drawn Madonna
of the school OF hubens. The whole effect
of this, while bright, is sole and fine.
Entirely different is IL from a quaint,
but charming. jeweled and needlework
panel of the seventeenth century. This
represents scenes In the life OF ST. Francis.
In one he is surrounded by the birds of
the air and fowl of the earth. In another
the fishes OF the sea are grouped around
his boat listening to his holy wisdom. and
in the third the Lord has appeared to him
in a glory in the heavens. This glory, the
| eyes OF the birds and the centers Of the
| flowers that border the three scenes, are
| raised masses of jewels, garnetS, pearls or
| cOrals Trunks OF trees are heavily raised
| in gold thread. and the foliage is done in a
peculiar thick green stitch Other stitches
| are OF interest, and the col0ring OF the
| tapestry is most pleasing
| y small piece of English needlework In
| lace bullion raised embroidery contains fif-
! teen stitches Some Of the missal covers
4 are 1eweed and look IL done I'm re-
| pOusse silver or gold. One piece of EN-
| broidery bears the relic of some saint ap
| pliqued into the picture. a piece of Flor
| entine floss embroidery is soldly done n
| stitches. Beautiful Gothic porteres IN
! gold on red velvet are TO be seen. an,
| hangings from the Barberini Palace. 4
| case of Italian purses once presented I,
! different churches full OF gold coins is NOR,
than interesting. Some bear on the out
| side the coats of arms OF the donors