This book was the thing that first introduced me to the broad range and history of needlework samplers, and was the source of much information in my previous post, so I must definitely credit it here! I don't have an awful lot to write about it right now because I basically just think it is great. Beautiful images fill the pages, which are very large and in brilliantly true-to-life colour - unlike many black and white, smaller reproductions I have since seen in other books. The size of the pages and images also allows you to see every detail which is invaluable for close study, either for academic purposes or to gain design ideas for your own work, in terms of both pattern and colour, and stitches used. Great close-ups of details from the samplers alongside their full-size images, and a chapter on stitches and techniques at the end of the book, enhance its practical function. A chapter at the beginning also provides valuable historical and contextual information (although if it is just the information rather than images you are after, most of this chapter is actually reproduced on the V&A website for free, just search 'samplers').
The book covers the range of samplers held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, spanning from the 14th to late 19th century, and internationally across not only a range of British examples, but also those from Europe, Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. Even for someone thus far totally uninterested in samplers I would recommend this book simply as something beautiful to look at, the quality and size of the images makes them unignorably fascinating. My only drawback would be that at £19.99 it is quite expensive, fortunately I received mine as a Christmas gift... but I have since bought one as a gift for someone else! Certainly a must for anyone interested in textile, pattern, design, embroidery, art history...
No comments:
Post a Comment