WHITE WORK, HANDKERCHIEF
An exquisite hand embroidered handkerchief, white on white purchased in Ceylon now called Sri Lanka in mid 20th C by donor’s mother who lived there for many years.
A dainty floral design with a range of embroidery stitches, covers the whole linen handkerchief. It has a scalloped edge worked in buttonhole stitch.
Since the time of Elizabeth I beautiful embroidered handkerchiefs have been an important sign of wealth and prestige for both men and women, used for ‘show’ and not for ‘blow’. Today hankies have been replaced by paper tissues.
The whole of the hanky is embroidered. The scalloped outside edge has widely spaced buttonhole and ladder stitching. In the centre is a circular element 85mm diameter consisting of 8 parallel curves 50mm long in which are 9 scrolls worked in stem stitch. Under each scroll are groups of three, 6 petalled daisy like flowers. Between each group is a rose with sprays of 3 leaves on either side. In the centre are scattered satin stitch forget-me-not flowers and tiny sprays of leaves. Beyond the scrolls, on the outer edge are 12 larger flowers. In each corner is a rose below an Iris looking flower. The centre petal in the Iris is worked in pulled fabric four sided stitch and the stamens of Iris and rose worked in back stitch. On either side are larger leaves - 20mm - with centre vein worked in stem stitch and side veins in back stitch: all elements of petals and leaves are outlined in satin stitch. Centre of each edge is a lily like flower with stamens worked in back stitch. Between the corner and centre edge flowers are sprays of forget-me-not flowers and leaves. Compare this hanky with fine stitching on hankies 2008.054, 2008.053 and not so fine stitching on 2000.110.
