The_Simple_Things_-_March_2020

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