Embroidery Frames in History

At the last two blackwork embroidery classes that I taught, inquiries came up about what type of frame to use. While doing some research, here is what I have discovered so far.
 
Circular frames appear to have emerged in history during the 18th century. This frame style was popular with tambour work, as seen below.
 

 

 

 
Tambour frames work well with embroidering small items, such as a handkerchief.  Below is a portrait of Madame de Pompadour with her tambour work.
 

 
 

 
However, prior to this time period, slate frames were used for embroidery.  A slate frame helps to keep the fabric taut while it is being embroidered, allowing for even stitches. A slate frame has four perpendicular sides with pegs or notches to help keep the fabric secure.
 
Below is an example of a slate frame.
 

 
 

One can use a scroll frame and dress it up to work as a slate frame. Below is an example of a scroll frame being used as a slate frame.
 

 
 


 
Here is an example of silk embroidery done in 1568:
 
  (Standebuch, 1568)
 
 (Same picture as above)
 
 

Below are other various historical examples of slate frames being used for embroidery.

(Album Amicorum of Gervasius Fabricius, 1603)
 
 
 
(painted by Francesco Cossa, 1476-84)
 
 

(woodcut by Alessandro Paganini, 1532)
  (painting by Antonio Armorosi in 1720)
 
 



(1627)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Works Cited
 
http://www.larsdatter.com/standebuch.htm
 
https://www.pinterest.com/isiscat/sewing-tools-embroidery-frames/
 
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20776/20776-h/chapter_5.html#fig_198
 
http://www.bayrose.org/AandS/slate_frame.html
 
http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2012/11/tambour-work.html
 
http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/cossa/schifano/1march/1march_1.html
 
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/354979

My Class Notes from today's Winged Hills Collegium event

 Today I taught another Introduction to Blackwork Embroidery at the Winged Hills' Collegium event. The class had a good turnout for the number of students. My apologies for forgetting to bring my binder which has various samples of blackwork embroidery as it was used during the Tudor era.

Here are portraits and website links to the portraits of some of the pictures I have in my binder collection:

 

http://tudorhistory.org/edward/edwardmonkey.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

https://stitchesoftime.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/nostell-priory-moore-pic-4.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

https://stitchesoftime.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/nostell-priory-moore-pic-3.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.crownedheadsmillinery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Henry-VIII.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.autumnalwind.com/joan/medemb/coif1.gif

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.uvm.edu/~hag/sca/tudor/choward.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.dragonlore.net/

 

 

 

 

 

http://pomoboho.blogspot.com/2008/03/blackwork-sampler-1.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.pinterest.com/selawall/blackwork/

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.pinterest.com/chrissiefreeth/blackwork/

 

 

 

A website to visit for various blackwork patterns is at http://www.blackworkarchives.com/.