Embroider my World Dark Lilac
When it was my birthday two years 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 I am using two of my Dewhurst's Sylko Dark Lilac reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The two spools sit on some antique lace which has been embroidered with lilac and pink floral details. Although ecru now, the lace has probably changed colour from white due to age. The spools are also accesorised by some lilac coloured satin roses, a floral sterling silver thimble made by Henry Griffith and Sons in 1897, a pair of silver sewing scissors, an unusual German sterling silver pincushion which is narrow with a band of green velvet and features a cherub with pet doves tied with ribbons on either side, and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll.
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 has romantic long blonde curls, but her hair is dressed with a fashionable contemporary (for the time) Art Deco style bandeau. I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.
The floral thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmiths Henry Griffith and Sons in Birmingham in 1897. Henry Griffith and Sons commenced in 1850, was continued as Henry Griffith & Sons (until 1898) and later as Henry Griffith & Sons Ltd. They were well known for their manufacture of silver thimbles, and later for their silver and gold jewellery. They closed their doors in 1982. Thimble making was part of the Griffith family heritage. The father of Henry Griffith was a thimble maker and was put in charge of the thimbles departments at the beginning of his son's activity. The Griffiths became one of the leading producers of silver thimbles and were one of the only silversmiths who marked some of their thimbles with 'Sterling Silver' instead of having them hallmarked.
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.
Embroider my World Dark Lilac
When it was my birthday two years 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 I am using two of my Dewhurst's Sylko Dark Lilac reels of cotton which date from between 1938 and 1954. The two spools sit on some antique lace which has been embroidered with lilac and pink floral details. Although ecru now, the lace has probably changed colour from white due to age. The spools are also accesorised by some lilac coloured satin roses, a floral sterling silver thimble made by Henry Griffith and Sons in 1897, a pair of silver sewing scissors, an unusual German sterling silver pincushion which is narrow with a band of green velvet and features a cherub with pet doves tied with ribbons on either side, and a beautiful German Art Deco half-doll.
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 has romantic long blonde curls, but her hair is dressed with a fashionable contemporary (for the time) Art Deco style bandeau. I imagine that she would have been made for a lady’s boudoir and was most likely the topper for a powder bowl or even a powder puff. She has been hand painted.
The floral thimble is sterling silver and was made by silversmiths Henry Griffith and Sons in Birmingham in 1897. Henry Griffith and Sons commenced in 1850, was continued as Henry Griffith & Sons (until 1898) and later as Henry Griffith & Sons Ltd. They were well known for their manufacture of silver thimbles, and later for their silver and gold jewellery. They closed their doors in 1982. Thimble making was part of the Griffith family heritage. The father of Henry Griffith was a thimble maker and was put in charge of the thimbles departments at the beginning of his son's activity. The Griffiths became one of the leading producers of silver thimbles and were one of the only silversmiths who marked some of their thimbles with 'Sterling Silver' instead of having them hallmarked.
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.