Casket or workbox, 1920-30, England, by Soldiers Embroidery Industry. Gift of Her Royal Highness Queen Mary, 1946. Te Papa (PC000875)
Join Claire Regnault, Senior Curator of History, for an exploration of embroidery and stitch work in Te Papa’s collection.
Claire’s illustrated talk will begin with the very first piece of needlework gifted to the museum by a formidable English donor, Mrs Alec Tweedie, and the Director’s bafflement at being offered examples of outstanding needlework from the United Kingdom throughout the 1940s, to pieces stitched by school girls, soldiers, amateur and professional needlewomen and artists. She will also look at how Te Papa’s collection has been used as a rich source of inspiration for students and contemporary textile practitioners.
Feature image: Detail from: Embroidery, ’Wanganui River’, 1891, Wellington, by Maud Brown. Bequest of Mrs Wickenden, 1963. Te Papa (PC000832)