Studio: international art (2.1894)

English Embroidered Book-Covers

On the back are ornamental panels in silver gimp The larger book, shown in Fig. 4, is remarkable
alternating with circles in satin stitch. It is a copy for the peculiar division of the back. Usually the
of the Psalms printed in London in 1641, and is lines of the design on any book follow the lines of
said to have been embroidered at Little Gidding the bands and edges of the book itself, but in this
in Huntingdonshire. case the centre line of the back has been taken as

On each side of Henshaw's Florcc Successive, the centre of the design irrespective of any other
printed in London in 1632, are five flower-groups consideration. The result is that the fold of the
worked in very delicate satin stitch. The flower book breaks part of the design in a very unusual
in the centre is a pink and white carnation and way. All the work is in gold and silver cord,
; i \ r raised gimp, and wire, except a few

_j__ J_ i___ il/lJ/. _* . petals worked in pale yellow silk.

.. ' /-j/"' .jj A a 4 t ''f 'WM It is bound in fawn-coloured velvet

fflidjlOV/s QySrjllQWZTih? OlUlftmy *m and has originally. had silk ties.
S'ijJrt? yrfus$j)'W. *Ji j Jft'S|s':lT€s«*i >^t>5s,-| There are several gold spangles in

**-.—, ' v ./f 5i 656?v.- ,1 / the interstices of the design. The

edges are gilt, with an arabesque
pattern gauffred upon them. It is
a copy of Christian Prayers, printed
in London in 1581.

All the drawings accompanying
this paper must unfortunately be
considered restorations, as although,
considering their age and the deli-
cacy of the work upon them, the
books are wonderfully preserved,
many details are worn away, and
in the matter of colour it is often
very difficult even to guess what it
has originally been. Quite enough,
however, is left to show that when
first made they must have been
very beautiful little works of art,
and moreover an art in former days
very especially English. Perhaps a
hope may be ventured that a more
distinct revival than has hitherto
taken place, of so dainty and grace-
ful an art, may not be very distant
—in fact, much excellent embroi-
,, . , dery of this kind has appeared of

cover for " flora s head. embroidered by mrs. walter crane. j 11

drawn from the original by h. Clifford years; but the old work still

supplies us with a standard both of

bud, in opposite corners a blue cornflower and design and execution that has, up to the present,

blue, purple and red heartsease, a red and white been but distantly approached,

strawberry spray and a red and white rose. These Cyril Davenport.

same groups are represented on a smaller scale in By way of showing some modern examples of

the panels on the back. Each flower and leaf is the art, we are permitted to reproduce a cover for

outlined by a small gold cord and the stems are Kingsley's Water Babies, designed by Reginald

worked in a larger gold cord. A many-coloured Hallward, worked by Miss Ethel Bloxam, which was

butterfly, a snail, caterpillar and fly complete the exhibited in a series of modern bindings specially

decoration on each side. The book has remaining commissioned by Mr. Tregaskis, and shown at the

upon it the fragments of ties of green silk, and Caxton Head, Holborn, in 1891; and two by Mrs.

there are many small spangles in the various Walter Crane, whose panel of Dante was a notable

spaces. exhibit at the late " Arts and Crafts."
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