Detail of a Carrickmacross lace shawl, Ireland, mid-19th century (TRC 2008.0453).We are working hard on the 4th volume of the Bloomsbury World Encyclopedia of Embroidery, which is about Scandinavian and West European embroidery (due out in 2024). We have nearly finished the draft text for the chapter on Irish embroidery and embroidered laces, but it is noticeable that there we have very few copyright free / open access illustrations (two to be exact, including a map).
So we are looking for actual examples for inclusion in the TRC Collection or copyright free images of the types listed below. If you can help with any of these please get in contact with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information, see below. Many thanks!
IRISH EMBROIDERY
DUN EMER GUILD AND THE DUN EMER INDUSTRIES: A nineteenth century craft group that produced a range of embroideries.
IRISH FLOWERING: Irish flowering is a form of whitework in which small sprigs of flowers are embroidered onto a cotton muslin ground.
IRISH SPRIGGING: Irish sprigging is a form of free-style whitework carried out on fine linen. It used buttonhole stitch, satin stitch and stem stitch, which were all worked in a white cotton thread. The main designs include simplified motifs of small flowers including daisies and shamrocks.
KELLS EMBROIDERY: Kells embroidery is the Irish name for Art Needlework/Embroidery that was popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century. This type of work often used the famous Book of Kells as a source of inspiration.
MOUNTMELLICK EMBROIDERY: Mountmellick embroidery (also known as Mountmellick work) is a form of whitework that originates from the town of Mountmellick, County Laois. It is characterized by free-style floral motifs that have a raised texture, worked in a cotton thread on a cotton tabby weave ground.
IRISH EMBROIDERED LACES
CARRICKMACROSS APPLIQUÉ NET LACE: An appliqué net (tulle) lace similar in idea to Brussels lace.
INISHMACSAINT LACE: Inishmacsaint lace is a form of heavy needlelace made with locally produced linen thread,
LIMERICK LACE: Limerick lace is a form of embroidered net lace that was produced in the town of Limerick, County Limerick.
NEW CROSS OR KELLS LACE: A form of heavy needlelace.
YOUGHAL LACE: A form of needlelace associated with the town of Youghal.
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 3 January 2023
