Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A Tisket, A Tasket

How about a beaded basket?



Or two...


Again from the fabulous needlework collection at the Burrell Museum in Glasgow.

Beadwork was a popular form of needlework at the end of 17th century.  Most of the glass beads were made in Venice at the time.

The most complex examples were beaded baskets using three-dimensional flowers, fruits and figures...





Beadwork was also stitched on a silk satin ground to make items such as box covers and mirror surrounds.  The tag at the museum didn't say but the clasp below leads me to believe that this piece may  have been a box top...?   Or is there a mirror underneath that cover? Maybe one of you knows...


I love the king's pantaloons peaking out from under his "skirt"...


And note that the hands are carved from wood and they look the same between king and queen. They are similar to wooden hand beads I've seen from the bead store.


If you are inspired to try you own hand at beaded basketry, perhaps you'd be interested in the Beaded Basket Design Competition being hosted by Thistle Threads to benefit the Holburne Museum in Bath, England?  For more information, click here.

Note:  Many of you asked yesterday what type of camera I was using to take these pictures.  It was a Sony RX 100 II.  Here's a link to a great review.

Have a great day!

20 comments:

gracie said...

How wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Achingly beautiful.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Wow, such beautifully detailed work.

Thanks for sharing ~ FlowerLady

cucki said...

Wow wow so pretty x

linnyt said...

Just Amazing! I've never seen these beaded baskets before. Thanks for posting them.

Lisa Boni said...

Lovely details! I'm intrigued at how the color range between both the embroidered piece from yesterday's post and today's beaded pieces are so similar! Must have been the favored colors of the day!

Mary Ann Tate said...

Absolutely stunning:)

Bren said...

Thank you so much for sharing all this eye candy. I so wish I lived close enough to attend something like this. You are a blessed lady!

Janet said...

What great pictures, today and yesterday. Thanks for sharing.

Createology said...

True beaded bliss of days gone by. This is what skilled hands did before technology and games. Peace and Joy...

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you thank you for these extraordinary pictures.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you thank you for these extraordinary pictures.

margaret said...

more wonderful photos you have shared, thank you

coral-seas said...

Wow, more stunning pictures, thank you. I love the details in the King and Queens clothes. I also really like the leopard on the first basket. Is it a lion on the opposite side? Did you get a pic of him by any chance?

allie aller said...

Thank you for the great photos! It must have been the Ladies of Leisure who had time and means to make these. I love that that is how they would spend their precious time...

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous photos of the amazing beadwork, thanks for sharing,

Catherine said...

Wow.....beautiful and so intricate!

Rachel said...

Really must get to the Burrell Collection - what a fabulous group of pieces!

Judy S. said...

Don't you just wonder under what conditions this was stitched? And how long it must have take! It's amazing, Susan. Thanks for sharing it!

Elizabeth said...

Those beaded baskets are simply breathtaking!! Did you say how old they were? Astonishing!!! Have you really found carved hands like those at a bead store??? do tell!!!

Related Posts with Thumbnails