This exhibition is completely focussed on embroidery. The exhibition shows a wide range of examples of embroided cloths and garments from all over the world, emphasizing the wide variety of materials, techniques, designs and colours. The exhibition not only shows actual examples, including a large number of completely dressed mannequins with embroidered clothing, but also the tools associated with this ancient craft, and provides detailed information on all the associated technical aspects. The term embroidery is being used in its broadest ‘umbrella’ sense. The exhibition includes (among others) historical and modern examples of free style and counted thread forms, as well as appliqué, couching, drawn and pulled thread work, patchwork, quilting and smocking.
Foto uit ca. 1904 van Henriëtte Braunstahl (1885-1983). TRC Collectie.The first part of the exhibition is used to show technical details such as equipment, thread, ground cloths, and means of transferring a design. The second section uses examples of embroidery from the TRC’s extensive collection, and presents a wide range of forms and uses of this decorative technique from around the world. Truly a source of information and inspiration !
The third section is about a young lady called Henriëtte Braunstahl from Den Haag (1885-1983), who was presented 1904 with a diploma from the Industrieschool voor Meisjes (‘s-Gravenhage) as a handwork teacher. The TRC was given her collection of exercise books, water colour albums, photographs, as well as samples of her work, by Henriëtte Braunstahl’s family a few years ago. The TRC embroidery exhibition is seen as the moment to show the embroidery skills of a girl from over 100 years ago and to illustrate the teaching methods of the time.
To get a feel of the exhibition, see the YouTube film, made by Andrew Thompson, and featuring Shelley Anderson, one of the TRC volunteers, as guide. For a photographic impression, click here.
If you don’t know what all these embroidery terms, such as appliqué, couching, drawn and pulled thread work, patchwork, quilting and smocking, mean exactly, then come and have a look. If you do, then there will be many items on display that will surely inspire you to explore further the amazing world of embroidery!
