“Spanysshwork”

I have a dear friend who is an antique dealer. With galleries in New York and Los Angeles, MaryAnn is an amazing wealth of knowledge when it comes to antiques and ofcourse my favourite topic…antique linens. Many a times, she has called me to let me know that a shipment of some “beauties” had arrived and if I wanted to see them first to immediately come on over and bring some cookies to go with the cup of coffee she was making. Some months ago, I received a similar phone call. She had some exquisite “Spanysshwork” samples and if I cared to have first dibs I better hurry. Hmmm….I had never  heard of “spanysshwork” but with my curiosity aroused I hurried over to the antique mall that she has opened outside the town. Why she moved to this quaint tourist town….the love of her life and husband fell in love with an early 1800′s mansion and grounds. The house is fascinating with every room yielding more surprises than the last. Every room is stocked full of gorgeous antiques and lavishly decorated in the style.

Seeing the “spanysshwork” for the first time, I blurted out…”why its blackwork”! And believe me that is exactly what it is. As MaryAnn settled in to educate me why she referred to the blackwork as “spanysshwork”, I realised what a wonderful term it was. It sounded almost exotic and certainly picks at the curious. History has it that Catherine of Aragon introduced the art of black thread embroidery on white fine linen hence the term “spanish work”. Ofcourse in time the art found its way of using other colors such as blue, green etc (depending upon the dyes available) but the name of “blackwork” stuck as the most popular due to the stark vividness of the black embroideries on white linens.

Ofcourse I was totally mesmerised. Looking at some of the fancy stitches created with the needle I immediately started my research on “blackwork” and the types of stitches to create my own designs. Most of the earlier samples of blackwork were linear drawings but with time gave way to vines, portraits, scenes, floral decorations etc. The continuity of the designs gave an almost stamped appearance to the embroideries. With the knowledge and some small samples (antiques cost a fortune) tucked in my sample book I came home to pore over each and every bit of the treasures. Shown above is my first attempt at “Spanysshwork” and yes my friend did smile when she saw it….”Don’t make it Jacobean”, she warned me. That was a mistake many made in recreating. Well, I thought to myself, the Tudors and Jacobean arts were side by side with the Blackwork so I  hardly see how one can avoid it….but I will give it a shot.