When the first embroidered silks from China reached Rome
in the 3rd century, the Romans, amazed at their beauty and
magnificence, aptly described the art as "painting
with a needle".
The threads and fabrics, all made of silk, were something rarely seen in Europe. European embroideries by contrast were largely of wool on canvas, wool on linen, or wool on wool.
Embroidery in the East has always been amongst the most important art forms and predated the development of watercolour painting. During the old dynasties in China, embroidery was used everywhere, on every type of garment, accessory and room decoration, on temple robes, religious banners, wall hangings and scrolls.
Embroiderers were honoured professionals and the imperial family alone employed thousands.
In needle painting, great care is taken with the blending of colours for it is the delicate shading which makes the objects more life like.
In the 18th century in Europe with renewed interest in the old masters, men and women diligently copied paintings. Shortly after the embroiderer discovered she too could participate in this fascinating experience and so took up needle painting. Pictures were professionally drawn on silk, the flesh parts being painted in and the rest left to the embroiderers to work in long and short satin stitch.
Examples of embroidery found in China tombs 2000 years old, reveal the use of the same stitches as are used today.
By Valerie Cavill