Embroider my World Pêche a la Melba
I must confess that unlike past "Embroider my World" images in this series, the title for today's photograph does not come from the name of a Dewhurst Sylko thread colour, however as I have added one of my new antique half-dolls into the still life, it seemed appropriate to use the name of the peach and raspberry dessert named after the Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. My half-doll looks like she might be about to sing us an aria, or perhaps a sentimental song like "There's No Place Like Home".
When it was my birthday six months ago, a very dear friend who enjoys photography as much as I do, and knows that I collect beautiful and vintage pieces, gave me a wonderful selection of antique ribbons, buttons, buckles, lace and other fine notions. She also gave me three follow up tins of similar delightful gifts for Christmas.
Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection.
In this case, the frothy creamy white vintage lace and rose patterned vintage grosgrain ribbon come from my own collection. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with two Dewhurst's Sylko reels of cotton, one sunrise and the other saffron which date from between 1938 and 1954, a small and large Edwardian cotton reel of peach cotton made by J. P. Coats. There is also an antique satin rose from my own collection,
In addition, I am featuring the debut of a German bisque 1920s half-doll in fanciful historical costume. Most were painted and glazed, but a smaller number, like this one, were not. The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll with her romantic costume probably would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a jewellery box or powder bowl. She stands at threeand one-quarter inches in height.
Belle Vue Mill, commonly known as Dewhurst’s, was built by Thomas Dewhurst in 1828. It opened in 1829 as John Dewhurst & Sons and was one of Skipton’s largest spinning and weaving mills. The mill’s position next to the Leeds Liverpool Canal meant that raw cotton could be shipped in by boats from Liverpool. Finished goods would then be sent back the same way ready for distribution. Coal to power the machine’s steam engines was also delivered by barge. In 1897 Dewhurst’s was bought by the English Sewing Cotton Co. It continued to produce Sylko, one of the mill’s most famous products. It was produced in over 500 colours and sold throughout the world. Sylko cottons are still available at haberdashers today.
In 1802 James Coats set up a weaving business in Paisley. In 1826 he opened a cotton mill at Ferguslie to produce his own thread and, when he retired in 1830, his sons, James & Peter, took up the business under the name of J. & P. Coats. In 1952 J. & P. Coats and the Clark Thread Co. merged to become Coats & Clark's. Today, the business is known as the Coats Group.
Embroider my World Pêche a la Melba
I must confess that unlike past "Embroider my World" images in this series, the title for today's photograph does not come from the name of a Dewhurst Sylko thread colour, however as I have added one of my new antique half-dolls into the still life, it seemed appropriate to use the name of the peach and raspberry dessert named after the Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. My half-doll looks like she might be about to sing us an aria, or perhaps a sentimental song like "There's No Place Like Home".
When it was my birthday six months ago, a very dear friend who enjoys photography as much as I do, and knows that I collect beautiful and vintage pieces, gave me a wonderful selection of antique ribbons, buttons, buckles, lace and other fine notions. She also gave me three follow up tins of similar delightful gifts for Christmas.
Those wonderful gifts are what has inspired me to create this series of "Embroider my World" images featuring my vintage bobbin collection.
In this case, the frothy creamy white vintage lace and rose patterned vintage grosgrain ribbon come from my own collection. I have accessorised them on a 1930s embroidered tablecloth with two Dewhurst's Sylko reels of cotton, one sunrise and the other saffron which date from between 1938 and 1954, a small and large Edwardian cotton reel of peach cotton made by J. P. Coats. There is also an antique satin rose from my own collection,
In addition, I am featuring the debut of a German bisque 1920s half-doll in fanciful historical costume. Most were painted and glazed, but a smaller number, like this one, were not. The "half-doll" is a dainty porcelain or bisque figurine, fashionable in the early Twentieth Century with an upper body, head, arms, but no legs. These dolls were produced in the thousands at the height of their popularity by German factories such as Dressel and Kister, Heubach, Goebel and Kestner. Later they were produced in France, America and later still, in Japan. They commonly served as handles and toppers for fabric covers made for powder boxes on ladies’ dressing tables and small brushes, however they were also made for jewellery boxes, pincushions, tea cosies and other covers. In this case, my German half-doll with her romantic costume probably would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a jewellery box or powder bowl. She stands at threeand one-quarter inches in height.
Belle Vue Mill, commonly known as Dewhurst’s, was built by Thomas Dewhurst in 1828. It opened in 1829 as John Dewhurst & Sons and was one of Skipton’s largest spinning and weaving mills. The mill’s position next to the Leeds Liverpool Canal meant that raw cotton could be shipped in by boats from Liverpool. Finished goods would then be sent back the same way ready for distribution. Coal to power the machine’s steam engines was also delivered by barge. In 1897 Dewhurst’s was bought by the English Sewing Cotton Co. It continued to produce Sylko, one of the mill’s most famous products. It was produced in over 500 colours and sold throughout the world. Sylko cottons are still available at haberdashers today.
In 1802 James Coats set up a weaving business in Paisley. In 1826 he opened a cotton mill at Ferguslie to produce his own thread and, when he retired in 1830, his sons, James & Peter, took up the business under the name of J. & P. Coats. In 1952 J. & P. Coats and the Clark Thread Co. merged to become Coats & Clark's. Today, the business is known as the Coats Group.