Categories: Textiles |

A ‘hair’ embroidery of Burghley House, late 18th Century.

The House and its Park are depicted; worked en grisaille on a satin ground and in a gilded frame, 48cm by 71cm.

Whilst embroideries of this type are often said to be made using human or horse hair, this is rarely the case.

Very fine cotton thread was, in fact, usually used, although it is known that hair was used in those items stitched by prisoners of war, imprisoned in camps such as that at Norman Cross, Peterborough during the Napoleonic War.

REFERENCE: TEX02501

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