This embroidered linen cheval set features embroidered waratah and wattle motifs and forms part of a collection of 19th and 20th century Australian embroidery and needlework, given to the Museum by Ian Rumsey and known as the Ian Rumsey Australian Textiles Collection. The collection was assembled by the donor, a private collector, over two decades and includes doilies, milk jug covers, tablecloths, placemats, towels, banners, aprons, samplers, runners and cushion covers, all featuring Australian motifs. Ian Rumsey was drawn to embroidery and needlework for its extensive use of Australian flora and fauna and other motifs which specifically reference Australia; he collected only well-preserved examples. The use of Australian motifs is strongly indicative of a shift away from the design influences of the United Kingdom towards a more inclusive Australian aesthetic.

The collection represents an important pastime of Australian women of the late 19th to mid 20th century. Women's focus was the home and its decoration was important. Embroidery and crochet work was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value, and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes, decorating or protecting furniture, floors and walls, and keeping off flies and insects from food. Embroidery and crochet work provided a much needed creative outlet for some and a restful leisure activity for others, as a way to commemorate significant events or supplement the family income.

The cheval set consists of one large oval mat and two small round mats in cream linen with narrow hand crocheted edging all around The large mat features two embroidered waratah and wattle motifs linked by a curving line of French knots, while the smaller mats have a single waratah and wattle motif. The flowers are worked in satin, stem, and fly stitch with cutwork at the mats' edges, in red, green, yellow and burgundy cotton thread. The set was probably produced for decorative display on a buffet or a woman's dressing table.

Part of a collection of well-preserved Australian needlework and embroidery of the early to mid 1900s, featuring Australian motifs and assembled by the donor Ian Rumsey over two decades. One of the principal sources for his collection was the late Nerylla Taunton, a widely respected Sydney antiques dealer who specialised in needlework and was a registered Australian government valuer for this class of object.

From the mid-19th century, needlework was a popular pastime among women, and the skills and techniques of decorative and plain sewing was both encouraged and expected of them (needlework was part of the school curriculum in the 19th century).

Cheval set, embroidered, linen / cotton, waratah motif, maker unknown, Australia, 1920-1950

A cream linen cheval set comprising one large oval and two small circular mats. Each mat features a waratah and wattle design. The smaller mats have a waratah motif with leaves which form a part of the edge of the mat, which has been embroidered in red, burgundy and green thread. From the flower, a sprig of wattle extends out from either side, embroidered in yellow and green thread. A curving line, parallel to the edge of the mat, of brown dots links each wattle sprig.

The larger mat has two waratah motifs, one at each end, with leaves which also form part of the edge of the mat and have been embroidered in red, burgundy and green thread. From each flower, a sprig of wattle extends out from either side, embroidered in yellow and green thread. A curving line, parallel to the edge of the mat, of brown dots links each wattle sprig. Each mat has a scalloped edge and a crochet edging.

Made: Australia; 1920 - 1950

2010/11/30

1920 - 1950