This is "The Magic Garden", 1937. 52 x 32 cm; cotton applique and free surface stitches.
The photo is in "5000 years of textiles", ed. Jennifer Harris, published in 1993 by British Museum Press, paperback edition 2004.She was one of the first advisers to the Needlework Development Scheme (started by J P Coates in 1934) and "taught the use of simple macterials and simple stitches to create lively and imaginative pieces. She was also one of the first teachers to promote the use of he domestic sewing machine as auseful tool in the embroiderer's repertoire, and, despite initial opposition, various types of machine were soon used either in conjunction with hand embroidery or alone."
You can see other pictures of her work here and here (both those links will take you to rich sources of needlework images, by the way) - and you can get the exhibition catalogue "Rebecca Crompton and Elizabeth Grace Thompson, Pioneers of Stitchery in the 1930s" from the Embroiderers Guild bookshop.
I agree - compton's work is excellent. I have a copy of 'Modern Needlecraft' published by Blackie in 1931. The section on Embroidery is by Crompton. It includes the image from the Robert Gordon's site.
ReplyDeleteWorth getting hold of if you are interested in her work.
Thank you so much for writing this post and including links to more images. I'm an admirer of R. Crompton and her visionary work.
ReplyDelete