The_Simple_Things_-_March_2020

(Dana P.) #1
LOOKING BACK

Olive impressively never
spent more than £5 on an
item for her collection

from her great-great-grandmother, including
shoe buckles, 18th-century shoes and a
prayerbook, triggered her interest. She was
able to f und her collect ing w it h a n a llowa nce
(and encouragement) from her father.

LESSONS FROM THE PAST
For the more creatively minded, what we collect
can be used to inspire future projects. Louisa
Pesel (1870–1947)* rooted her needlework
in the traditions of the past. British born, she
was director of the Royal Hellenic School of
Needlework and Lace in Athens for four years
from 1903. There, she developed a love of Greek
and Turkish embroidery and acquired many
beautiful examples (now in the International
Textile Collection, Leeds University, ulita.leeds.
ac.uk). Her description of a Danish Hedebo
embroidery panel reveals her attitude to
collecting. According to Louisa, the Danes

A colourful
19th-century
border fragment
from Louisa Pesel’s
collection – and
Louisa in action
teaching.

*Louisa features in A Single Thread
by Tracy Chevalier (The Borough Press)

»

LOOKING BACK

from her great-great-grandmother, including
shoe buckles, 18th-century shoes anda
prayerbook, triggered her interest. She was

A colourful
19th-century
border fragment
fromLouisaPesel’s

Louisa
Pesel

Olive impressively never
spent more than £5 on an
item for her collection

abletof undhercollect ingw it ha na llowa nce
(andencouragement)fromherfather.


LESSONS FROM THE PAST
For the more creatively minded, what we collect
can be used to inspire future projects. Louisa
Pesel (1870–1947)* rooted her needlework
in the traditions of the past. British born, she
was director of the Royal Hellenic School of
Needlework and Lace in Athens for four years
from 1903. There, she developed a love of Greek
and Turkish embroidery and acquired many
beautiful examples (now in the International
Textile Collection, Leeds University, ulita.leeds.
ac.uk).Herdescriptionofa DanishHedebo
embroiderypanelrevealsherattitudeto
collecting.AccordingtoLouisa,theDanes


fromLouisaPesels
collection– and
Louisain action
teaching.

*Louisa features in A Single Thread
by Tracy Chevalier (The Borough Press)


»

LOOKING BACK

fromhergreat-great-grandmother,including
shoebuckles,18th-centuryshoesanda
prayerbook, triggeredher interest.She was


A colourful
19th-century
borderfragment
fromLouisaPesel’s

Louisa
Pesel
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