Medieval Goldwork Embroidery Blog by the Acupictrix

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery Tutorial: Venetian Floral

Goldwork & Silk Embroidery Tutorial: Venetian Floral

Last week, we looked at a mid-15th-century orphrey panel from Venice with an interesting goldwork background on silk. I’ve adapted the design slightly and turned it into a goldwork embroidery tutorial. The stitching is relatively simple but teaches you a few key things when it comes to medieval goldwork embroidery. Journeyman and Master Patrons find a downloadable PDF on my Patreon page. Becoming a Journeyman or Master Patron is an affordable way to obtain an archivable goldwork Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago
Embroidery - Orphrey panel with the male martyr on the chasuble from the parish church of Saints Philip the Apostle and James the Apostle, Azzone (Bergamo), Italy

Venetian embroidery from the mid-15th century

Last month, we looked at some early 15th-century embroidery from Venice, Italy. You can read about it here: the Cope of Pope Gregory XII, further early 15th-century embroidery from Venice, and a tutorial. This week, we will look at a Venetian piece from the second half of the 15th century. It features some lovely embroidery techniques that would work well for modern goldwork. And the embroidery background is a bit unusual as well. Instead of using a diaper Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago
Book review: Die Bamberger Kaisergewänder im Wandel

Book Review: Die Bamberger Kaisergewänder im Wandel kunsttechnoligische und materialwissenschaftliche Aspekte

FINALLY: three years and one month after I ordered the above title, it finally arrived a couple of days ago. It is the third (and last) volume on a research project regarding the Imperial Vestments kept in Bamberg. I have written two previous book reviews, which you can find here: volume 1 and volume 2. And I have written several blogs about the Imperial Vestments before. These are six embroidered textiles associated with Emperor Henry II and his wife Kunigunde. They Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago
Goldwork tutorial

Goldwork Tutorial: an ornate border from 15th century Venice

In the past two weeks, we have explored the early 15th-century goldwork embroidery from Venice, Italy. One of its characteristics is the ornate orphrey borders with the twisted columns. I’ve always been curious how they were made! So out came the cotton padding threads and the gold threads for a goldwork tutorial. This kind of embroidery is best done on a slate frame. If you would like a reminder of what this is and how Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago
Venetian Embroidery - Detail orphrey panel with Saint Augustine, Venice 1410-1420, the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (from the church of San Pantalon)

Venetian Embroidery: more “measles” from medieval Venice

From last week’s blog post, you might have gotten the idea that Venetian goldwork embroideries from the early 15th century are somewhat plentiful. They are not. However, another magnificent piece of Venetian embroidery was exhibited at Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento, Northern Italy. Some parts are remarkably modern in their appearance. Parts of the design could be easily adapted for modern goldwork embroidery. Let’s have a look at the medieval eye candy. The embroidered chasuble cross Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago
Venetian Embroidery - Orphrey panel with James the Great kept at the Museo Diocesano Recanati, Italy.

Venetian Embroidery: cope fragments of Pope Gregory XII

In September 2019, I visited the exquisite exhibition “Fili d’oro e dipinti di seta” in the Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento, Northern Italy. Together with the 2015 exhibition in the Catharijneconvent and the 2016 Opus Anglicanum exhibition in the V&A, this was one of those ‘must-see’ exhibitions. This one visit provided me with research material for several years. Especially as I was allowed to take as many pictures as I liked. As long as you don’t use Read more

By Dr Jessica Grimm, ago