WHITE WORK, HANDKERCHIEF
An exquisite hand embroidered cotton handkerchief, white on white, purchased in Perth by a friend of the donor as a birthday gift in late 20th century.
A dainty floral design with a range of embroidery stitches covers a broad band around the perimeter, leaving the centre clear. The shallow scalloped edge is ladder stitch and 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’. In the 20th century they were popular gifts for family and friends. Today hankies have been replaced by paper tissues.
The scalloped outside edge of the hanky has buttonhole and ladder stitching. Inside this is a band of embroidery, 75mm wide at the corners reducing to 55mm at the centre edges. The design consists of curved parallel lines of ladder stitch between which are satin stitch dots. Around this are flowers outlined in satin stitch of different shapes and sizes, Largest is a rose in each corner with 8 petals; medium size poppy shaped flowers with 5 petals are shadow work with herringbone stitch; flowers reduce in size towards the centre edges. Stems are worked in stem stitch. Centre of hanky, circular shape 200mm diameter is plain. The stitching on this hanky is neat but not as detailed nor as meticulously worked as the other hankies. Compare this hanky with stitching on hankies 2008.054, 2008.053 and 2000.109.
