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TYPE: decorative towel
TECHNIQUE: cut work Hedebo
Cut work Hedebo decorative towel. The embroidery is a fine example of early cut work Hedebo, where the tradition of having horizontal borders framed with H hemstitching is preserved. Despite the great openness of the stitching, the embroidery is solidly worked and the different fillings in the spaces show a great proficiency and an experienced needlewoman. In the centre of the wide border is the monogram. The rest of the border consists mainly of open rosettes formed by droplike spaces.
Details
Please note
• The narrow border with a row of ‘hexagonal’ wheels, each consisting of triangular spaces with points and beading loops
• The letters and date of the monogram were made of Hedebo rings joined with beading loops
• The small round spaces in the lower border have a cross bar of thread stitching, apparently held together in the middle by a ‘spider’. They are, however, small Danish buttonhole stitches. The ‘spider’ appears later in Hedebo embroidery
• The leaves in the fourpointed stars in the corners are decorated with blanket stitch wheels