Antique Drawn Thread Work….posted by Soul Sister
September 12, 2006
The above are 2 examples of antique drawn thread work, otherwise often referred to as whitework.Drawn thread work is considered by many to be a type of lace work. It is traditionally created on a background of linen fabric from which chosen warp and weft threads were carefully removed in order to create a pattern which was then further embellished and reinforced with decorative embroidery stitches and needle weaving in the open areas. There are many examples to be found in collections worldwide, some of which date back as far as the 15th century. Much of this type of needlework was made in Italy, Sicily, Bologna and England. There are many variations within drawn thread work, two of the most elaborate being referred to as ‘reticella’ and ‘punto in aria’, as in the examples above.
Heather Blakey
Anita Marie
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Lori
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Edith: these are beautiful. I remember seeing an unfinished piece of lace in a trunk belonging to my grandmother. I was told that grandma “tatted”. Is this lace similar to “tatting?”
Wow Edith. When we were in Ireland in 2001 we bought an antique lace colour in Killarny to remind us of your gorgeous part of the world. These pieces, however, are something else again.
Hi Lori, no tatting is different from the lacemaking you see above. Tatting is lace created with thread and tatting needle, wheras drawn thread lacework begins with a piece of linen cloth from which certain threads are withdrawn (hence title of ‘drawn thread’)and then the linen is embellished with decorative embroidery stitches. Lacemaking either way and all ways is a dying art I am afraid, but there are a few women who attempt to keep the tradition alive. Perhaps I sahll post a piece about Irish lacemaking…..
Hi Heather, how long were you visiting Ireland for? Where did you travel to? The lace you see above is not Irish lace…the bottom 2 are Englishand date from 1640’s.The top piece is Venetian, no date.