The Easel

3rd December 2024

Stitched: Scotland’s Embroidered Art

The economics of a community reflects in its art and especially so for textile embroidery. This was women’s work, requiring long hours to produce objects that sold for very little. Yet a wide network of women, including from “the peasantry”, had the skills to make intricate armchair coverings, bed hangings, tablecloths and cushions. Many pieces show exceptional individual creativity, using not just traditional textiles but also newer products from India. “An extraordinary exhibition”.

26th November 2024

Islamic art and the sumptuous Victorian designs of William Morris

William Morris was a quintessentially English designer, and his wallpapers and fabrics celebrated the flora and fauna of the English countryside. Yet behind his designs was a profound influence from Islamic arts. He was an active collector of Middle Eastern carpets and decorative tiling, and their flower motifs and geometric patterns were reflected in his wallpaper designs. Said he, “Persia has become holy land, for there in the process of time our art was perfected”. An essay by a curator is here.