Stitch is International… Part 2
5th June, 2020
Our exhibition, ‘Stitch is International’, should have opened at the end of April but, as this is not possible, and following up our Chinese Collection Video, Exhibition Curator and RSN Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams, has created a second video of what will be in store for you when we are able to open our doors.
Proving that stitch is indeed international, and can be found in all parts of the globe, this second video features work from India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, Panama and a couple of pieces from China. As with all of the pieces in the RSN Collection, they have been given to us and represent items from all levels of society, and for indigenous populations as well as for the tourist trade.
For example the Molas, made by the women of the Sand Blas islands of Panama, have a long tradition. Two are made side by side to be worn on the front and back of their blouses.
Traditional Molas are made using reverse Appliqué, where the top layers are cut away to reveal the colours underneath, down to the base layer which remains whole. We have some of these in the Collection but we also have some pieces which have been made for the tourist market where the Appliqué is on the top, such as the mouse piece in the video and below.
As well as showing full pieces, the video includes some close-ups to help you to see the stitching in detail. This ranges from extremely small, precise stitches, such as on the red and white band from Italy, to much more loose application with thicker shiny threads on the shawl and skirt from Guatemala.
For something very different, the Indian piece is ceremonial, a piece likely to be worn by a bride and groom at a wedding. The threads include tinsel and extensive amounts of metal thread embroidery with the heart at the centre made up of overlapping spangles, so dense that it is not possible to see what colour the ground fabric is at this point.
The pieces in this video include items to wear, from top to toe: shawls, robes, blouses, skirts, to a slipper design on net, as well as household items: hangings, covers and a Turkish towel.
The RSN has a number of 19th century Turkish pieces in its Collection and hopes to show more of these in the next video, Part 3.
If you did not catch the RSN Chinese Textile Collection video a few weeks ago you can still watch it on our YouTube channel.