This online Embroidery Motif Wiki is an index of some typical English motifs found in Elizabethan and Early Stuart embroideries. It shows a selection of the impressive variety of stitches and colors used by the embroiderers of the time that resulted in many variations of each motif.

 

Being able to see these variations collected together, rather than spread across in their originating extant items, makes the comparison of their differences much easier. This is why we made our collections, which we are now sharing with you.

 

The images have been obtained from various museums' online collections.

 

This collection currently encompasses the 16th and 17th century embroidery techniques described in the Glossary (link below).

 

This is a collaboration between Jen (Pinkleader) and Megan (Elmsley Rose).

 

NOTE: This is still very much under construction.

 

16th and 17th Century Embroidery Motifs from extant pieces:

  

Floral Motifs
Acorns Elizabethan Embroidered Acorns Laid and Couched Acorns Surface Embroidery Acorns Stumpwork and Raised Work Acorns Goldwork Acorns Berries Bluebells Blossoms Borage Elizabethan Embroidery Borage Goldwork Borage Raised Work Borage Satin Stitched Borage Surface Embroidery Borage Laid and Couched Borage Carnations Elizabethan Embroidery Carnation Goldwork Carnations Laid and Couched Carnations Pearl-bead Carnation Satin Stitched Carnations Surface Embroidery Carnations Columbines Goldwork Columbine Elizabethan Embroidery Columbine Cornflowers Elizabethan Embroidery Cornflower Satin Stitched Cornflower Surface Embroidery Cornflower Laid and Couched Cornflowers Goldwork Cornflowers Daffodils Elizabethan Embroidered Daffodils Satin Stitch Daffodils Goldwork Daffodils Laid and Couched Daffodils Foxgloves Elizabethan Embroidery Foxgloves Satin Stitch Foxgloves Goldwork Foxgloves Laid and Couched Foxgloves Grapes Elizabethan Embroidery Grapes Surface Embroidery Grapes Satin Stitch Grapes Goldwork Grapes Stumpwork and Raised Work Grapes Hazelnuts Stumpwork and Raised Work Hazelnuts Honeysuckle Elizabethan Embroidery Honeysuckle Surface Embroidery Honeysuckle Satin Stitch HoneySuckle Goldwork Honeysuckle Laid and Couched Honeysuckle Stumpwork and Raised Work - Honeysuckle Iris Surface Embroidery Iris Satin Stitch Iris Stumpwork and Raised Work Iris Lily Elizabethan Embroidery Lily Satin Stitch Lily Surface Embroidery Lily	Marigold Elizabethan Marigolds Surface Embroidery Marigold Satin Stitch Marigold Goldwork Marigold Stumpwork and Raised Work Marigold Laid and Couched Marigolds Pansy Elizabethan Embroidery Pansy Surface Embroidery Pansy Satin Stitch Pansy Goldwork Pansy Laid and Couched Pansy Peapod and Sweetpea flowers Elizabethan Embroidery Peapods Surface Embroidery Peapods and Flowers Satin Stitch Peapods and Flowers Stumpwork and Raised Work - Peapods and Flowers Laid and Couched Peapods and Flowers Pomegranate Surface Embroidery Pomengranate Satin Stitch Pomengranate Stumpwork and Raised Work Pomengranates Goldwork Pomengranates Poppy Satin Stitch Poppy Primrose Surface Embroidery Primrose Goldwork Primrose Elizabethan Embroidery Primrose Laid and Couched Primrose Roses Elizabethan Embroidery Roses Surface Embroidery Roses Satin Stitch Roses Goldwork Roses Stumpwork and Raised Work Roses Pearl-Bead Rose Laid and Couched Roses Rosehips Small Blossoms - General Elizabethan Embroidery Small Blossoms Surface Embroidery Small Blossoms Small Blossoms from Raised Work and Stumpwork Raised and Stumpwork Small Blossoms from Raised and Stumpwork Surface Embroidery Small Blossoms from Raised and Stumpwork Satin Stitch Small Blossoms from Raised and Stumpwork Strawberries, Fruit and Flowers Strawberry Sepals Elizabethan Embroidery Strawberries Surface Embroidery Strawberries and Flowers Satin Stitch Strawberries and Flowers Goldwork Strawberries Raised work and Stumpwork Strawberries and Flowers Thistle Surface Embroidery Thistle Elizabethan Embroidery Thistle Goldwork Thistle Tulip Surface Embroidery Tulip Satin Stitch Tulip Stumpwork and Raised Work Tulip Goldwork Tulip
Insect Motifs Bees and Wasps Elizabethan Embroidery Bees and Wasps Surface Embroidery Bees and Wasps Satin Stitch Bees and Wasps Stumpwork and Raised Work Bees and Wasps Butterflies Elizabethan Embroidery Butterflies Surface Embroidery Butterflies Satin Stitch Butterflies Stumpwork and Raised Work Butterflies Dragonflies Elizabethan Embroidery Dragonflies Surface Embroidery Dragonflies Satin Stitch Dragonflies Ladybirds Elizabethan Embroidery Ladybirds Satin Stitch Ladybirds Snails Elizabethan Embroidery Snails Satin Stitch Snails Stumpwork and Raised Work Snails Worms/Caterpillar Elizabethan Embroidery Worms and Caterpillars Surface Embroidery Worms and Caterpillars Satin Stitch Worms and Caterpillars Goldwork Worms and Caterpillars	Bird Motifs Elizabethan Embroidery Birds Surface Embroidery Birds Satin Stitch Birds Stumpwork and Raised Work Birds Goldwork Birds Pearl Birds Pelican In It's Piety   Animal Motifs Lions Leopards Rabbits Other Animals   Tree Motifs   Leaf Motifs Elizabethan Embroidery Leaves Raised and Stumpwork Leaves  Satin Stitch Leaves  Surface Embroidery Leaves Heathered Leaves Stripey Leaves Pearl-Bead Leaves Goldwork Leaves Laid and Couched Leaves Trefoils   Stumpwork Specialties : Stumpwork Ladies  Stumpwork Gentlemen Goldwork Purl Motifs   Patterns and Line Drawings

 

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Orphan Images - Can you help us?

 

Unknown Flowers and Critters - Can you help us?

 

Glossary of terms and notations

 

KUDOS PAGE

 

Copyright Permissions Page

 

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Sources of Extant Items: 

 

Victoria and Albert Museum Link

 

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

• Polychrome Coif 43.249

• Polychrome Coif 43-248

• Polychrome Coif 34.226

• Nightcap 43-251

• Polychrome Nightcap 43-250

• Robe 38-1386

• Bodice Back 60.560

• Sleeve 38-766

• Cover 38-1082

• Couched Covered Purl Embroidery 88-351

 

Minneapolis Institute of Art

• Embroidered Casket 1622

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Casket of the 5 Senses

 

Embroidered Bookbindings at the British Library

• Bookbinding c24a34

• Bookbinding c188a11

• BookBinding c65i5

• BookCover c108p25

• BookBinding c65i10

• Bookbinding c17a21

• Bookbinding c17a14

• BookBinding c17a23

• Bookbinding c15a25

 

 

English Embroidered Bookbindings, author Cyril Davenport

• English Embroidered Bookbindings - Plate 2
• English Embroidered Bookbindings - Plate 19
• English Embroidered Bookbindings - Plate 25
• English Embroidered Bookbindings, Plate 47
• English Embroidery Bookbindings, Plate 48
• English Embroidered Bookbindings, Plate 51
• English Embroidered Bookbindings, Plate 52

 

 

Royal English Bookbindings, author Cyril Davenport

 

The Fashion Museum at Bath

• Spence Glove Collection

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*Banner image taken from personal photogragh of Boston MFA #34.226

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