Antique Needlepoint for Sale

I'm sitting here, bored, waiting for time to go to my dentist appointment, so I decided to check out antique needlepoint for sale.

https://www.1stdibs.com/buy/antique-needlepoints/

1st Dibs usually has high end pieces, as you can tell from the prices.  I'd be a little leery about most of the rugs, which likely aren't what we call needlepoint, but woven pieces.  Check the origin before you decide.  

And if you aren't in the mood to spend thousands on an antique, just enjoy browsing to see what our stitching ancestors spent their time on.  It's a good way to pick colors for your next project, if nothing else.  It also makes me think about the pieces I've got queued up to stitch.  Perhaps I should include a heirloom piece among the fun small ornaments I am going to work next....

Or maybe I should needlepoint a card table cover?  They were all the rage in the late 1950s-early 1960s.

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/rugs-carpets/western-european-rugs/curious-little-antique-needlepoint-tapestry/id-f_22934702/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright February 1, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Eastlake Folding Tapestry Camp Chair

Those interested in Victorian murders (or Victorian tapestry design) will enjoy reading this.

https://lizziebordenwarpsandwefts.com/2021/05/06/a-camp-chair-and-a-sewing-machine/

The chair is described as a folding tapestry camp chair and it appears to be in the Eastlake style.  The needlepoint is quite a bit like this although the wood of the chair in the Borden house is different.  

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.ZtkVV5tip6q5PrKdP5hG8AHaJ4%26pid%3DApi&f=1

These are found on the antiques sites in various conditions. 

https://foter.com/victorian-folding-chairs

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright May 7, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Country Living Appraises Antique Needlepoint

Country Living has a column that does antique appraisals. This one focuses on five needlepoint pieces.
https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/g721/antique-needlework-appraisals-0209/?fbclid=IwAR3pzNTDbWg3_641fqEFiESYAA4ypNeQeaLZE-tlSWaLCy1-7TFLBO_5GKw

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Antique Needlepoint for Sale

Susan Johnson of SJ Designs doesn't only sell beads and sequins and chart antique designs for modern needlepointers, she sells antique pieces she finds here and there, including some nearly 150 year old examples of needlepoint.  You can see quite a few interesting examples of historical needlepoint in her Etsy shop.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SusanJohnsonDesigns?section_id=16782233

My favorites are the needlepoint in the Medieval style dated c. 1860…
https://www.etsy.com/listing/630178183/c1860-needlepoint-tapestry-in-the?ref=shop_home_active_15

…and the beaded needlepoint on perforated paper which is probably ten years older.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/643867950/c1850-beaded-needlepoint-on-perforated?ref=shop_home_active_17&cns=1

You may be smitten by the samplers or the antique tools, though. It's a fun browse, so pour a cuppa and enjoy.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 18, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

If You Want to Overpay For a Needlepoint Gift

If you want to overpay for a needlepoint gift, 1st Dibs has you covered.
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/more-furniture-collectibles/textiles/pillows-throws/1960s-age-state-mind-needlepoint-pillow-velvet-backing/id-f_7085193/

To see more of their offerings (and to be far, some of the antique chairs are lovely), use search.  It's fun to explore all the offerings, from tennis racket covers to tote bags, pillows and slippers, rugs and furniture.
https://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=needlepoint

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 10, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Petit Point Perfume Bottle

Nancy posted a photo on Facebook's Needlepoint Nation group of a perfume bottle decorated with petit point.  One of her friends has an antique mall and has this for sale.  It appears to be Austrian and is around one hundred years old.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/1530069143736905/

This is the first perfume bottle I've ever seen with needlepoint although the pink rose and blue small flower motif is common.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 7, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ladies Work Society Auction

Dominic Winter Auctioneers is having a sale of the archives of the Ladies Work Society (and some other textile-related items) on October 6.  There is a lovely map chest, a few tools, and several Berlin woodwork charts that I thought you might like to see on this description of the sale.
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/ladies-work-society-sale/ 


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 1, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Beautiful Thread Winders

Hands Across the Sea Samplers showed off some lovely antique thread winders on their Wordless Wednesday blog posting this week.  I think they are all 19th Century, although I am no expert. 
https://hands-across-the-sea-samplers.com/wordless-wednesday-15/

Thread winders are used more in cross stitch than needlepoint as far as I can tell from my stitching friends, but lovely tools are lovely tools, no matter how (or when) you stitch.  This little article about historical stitching tools is quite interesting.
http://wkneedle.bayrose.org/Articles/period_workbox.html

I found both modern and antique ones for sale on Etsy.
https://www.etsy.com/market/thread_winders

Enjoy dreaming of the perfect thread winder for your favorite silk....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

An Antique "Tapisserie" Presentation Box From France

Thanks to the Embroiderers Guild of Canada, I discovered this antique needlepoint box from France. Dated to the late 1800s, it was intended as a gift for a new stitcher and includes wool skeins, a frame, patterns, spools of thread and tools.  The only item that is lacking is a pair of scissors.   I am not sure what the board below the frame is for, unless it is a table mount base for the frame itself.  There are two turned pegs on either side of the frame, so probably the frame slots into the pegs and the pegs fit into the base to create a table stand.  Other views of this treasure are available by clicking on the thumbnail photos to the right of the large picture or by running your cursor up the row of photographs.
http://www.rubylane.com/item/1125715-MPP1001/Marvellous-Antique-French-x92Tapisseriex92-Presentation

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Mystery at the Antiques Mall UPDATED

Susan at Plays with Needles stumbled across a mystery involving a piece of petitpoint she found at an antiques mall in Florida. Anyone recognize the heraldry or what 1526 means?
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/04/heralding-petit-point.html

UPDATE:  Susan talked to the College of Arms and here is what they said about the symbolism.
http://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2015/04/heraldry-follow-up.html

All I know about the date 1526 is Henry VIII was writing love letters to Anne Boleyn then....

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 14, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Firescreen--Now Appearing at Woodlawn

Tapestry Tent's Earthy Paradise, Stitched by Kate L. Callahan

Since so many of us never make it to the Woodlawn exhibit when my friend Kate Callahan mentioned she'd sent her fire screen off to the show, I begged her for photos to share.  What you see above is Tapestry Tent's "Earthy Paradise." The fire screen itself is antique and 17 inches square.  Kate changed the earthy brown tones to brighter ones to be more authentic.  I found this online photo so you can see the original colors as designed by Liz Dillon.
http://rittenhouseneedlepoint.com/earthly-paradise.html

Comparing Kate's fire screen to the original design, you will see Kate added a crewel-type bottom to ground the vase and create a more crewel-like look.  She used brighter colors to make this piece more period, as you can see in these two photos which show a fire screen from the mid to late 1700s with the original stitching still inside.

The back of the antique fire screen (left) is much brighter than the front side (right).  By the way, Kate's version is all tent stitches, even the crewel ground under the vase.  If you click on the photos, they should enlarge enough for you to see how Kate played with the background colors to bring out the four birds in the bouquet.

Thank you so much for sharing the piece and its inspiration with us, Kate!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 24, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Winterthur Antique Needlepoint

Ann has been at Winterthur's Diligent Needle seminar, taking classes and ogling the antique needlework.  This posting (there are more, click on the header to read them all) shows 18th Century needlepoint pocketbooks in all their glory.  Click on the photos for a larger view.  Beautiful!
http://stitchingfoolishness.blogspot.com/2014/11/wintherthur-day-two.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 3, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Antique Needlepoint Purses for Sale

Antique needlepoint purses are up for auction.  The auction will be over by the time you read this but since it is in England, I didn't think many of us would be bidding.
http://needleprint.blogspot.com/2013/02/bags-of-bags-purses-knowle-auction.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Is It Fashion or Pillow?

Can you pick out the close ups of antique needlepoint pillows from the close ups of couture dresses?  Which is fashion and which is a pillow?  (Correct answer- BOTH!)
http://fashionista.com/2012/10/fashion-game-is-it-needlepoint-fashion-or-a-needlepoint-pillow/

Many thanks to Barbara Bergsten who found this and posted the link on Facebook.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Making Laying Tools (and Selling Antiques)

I just added a new shop that specializes in various types of needle arts and framing to the blog list--We, Of the Needle.  They are located in Brea, CA, which is way too far from Chilly Hollow for me to take a field trip but at least we can visit via their blog.  Something I'm interested in are their custom laying tools.
http://weoftheneedle.blogspot.com/2012/07/shop-preview-cables-custom-laying-tools.html

Here is a glimpse of how these are made.
http://weoftheneedle.blogspot.com/2012/08/how-its-made-wooden-laying-tools.html

If laying tools aren't your thing, how about antique stitching tools?
http://weoftheneedle.blogspot.com/2012/07/shop-preview-antiques.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Antique Stitching Tools

Are you fascinated by antique needlework tools?  Quail Run is!
http://sonorandesertstitching.blogspot.com/2012/09/antique-needlework-tools_2.html

Gay Ann Rogers has a few copies of her Silver Thimbles book available from her website, in case you are interested.
http://www.gayannrogers.com/books.html

She also has pages about thimbles, sewing tools and thimble collecting on her old website.  Here's the home page.  Choose a section and browse.
http://www.gayannrogersannex.com/site_2/Home_Page.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Older Needlepoint on Show

The Domestiquete has been at an antique show where she found all sorts of examples of old needlepoint.  The framed picture is probably the oldest piece, with the elaborate scrollwork chair upholstery a bit later (I'm guessing it is trame) and then the teal chair seats date from the early 1970s perhaps.  They all are wonderful, aren't they?
http://thedomestiquete.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/antique-needlepoint/


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Cleaning Antique Fabrics

While reading the Washington Post online, I stumbled across a link to this fabulous article on cleaning antique quilts. Many of the tips will apply to any type of fabric although the article is written with quilts in mind.
http://www.hartcottagequilts.com/quiltcare.htm


Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

Elegant Accessories

Yesterday was the Glitzy Accessories class, today we have antique sewing accessories. And what accessories they are! There are twelve pages, each more beautiful than the last. The swan scissors in their case is just the first delight.

http://www.needleworkantiques.com/gallery_of_needlework_tools.html

I've had a lot of fun this morning reading the descriptions and thinking now I'll know what the sewing tools mentioned in 19th Century novels look like.

Jane/Chilly Hollow
Main blog at http://blog.360.yahoo.com/chillyhollow