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Carnival Patterns inspired by Embroidery and Needlecraft - Part Two

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​Here, in Part Two, we look at some of the Carnival patterns that were inspired by needlecraft and embroidery.


Firstly, let's put a name to some of the stitches.
Needlework stitches
Left to right: satin stitch, blanket stitch, buttonhole bars, basket filling stitch, needle lace, and serpentine hem stitch. 
 
Many of these stitches may immediately trigger a connection with well known Carnival Glass patterns, and some may be a little more difficult to recognise. What is clear is that a wide range of stitches were used by the mould makers, either as the main pattern motif, or as a “filler”, intended to pick up and reflect iridescence in what would otherwise be blank spaces in the pattern. T
he shimmering colours and light-catching qualities of Carnival Glass’s iridescence produce a magnificent effect.

​Captive Rose, Fenton

​In this highly stylised floral pattern, the Captive Rose design is clearly imitative of needlecraft, in particular the portrayal of the rose looks like a representation of embroidered satin stitch, while the encircling hexagons are portrayed as if in blanket stitch. Indeed, the whole pattern gives the impression of having been delicately stitched by hand! Quite an achievement. It’s an intricate, highly complex design that takes iridescence very well indeed.

Captive Rose appears in Butler Brothers catalogues from Spring 1911. ​Did Frank Fenton watch his wife, Lilian, stitching this design, and then capture it in glass in “Captive Rose”?
Captive Rose pattern
Captive Rose pattern
Captive Rose pattern
Picture
Green Captive Rose plate, Fenton
On the left is a detailed image of the Captive Rose pattern, and several elements are immediately recognisable as needlework.

The rose itself is satin stitch, blanket stitch is used around the hexagons that connect the roses, as well as buttonhole bars and the needle lace "filler" pattern.

Above left is how the rose design looks like embroidered in silks.
Persian Medallion, Fenton

Persian Medallion was clearly a very popular design, as it appears in Butler Brothers ads from 1911 through to 1924 (and it was a pattern that Fenton subsequently reissued in contemporary Carnival Glass).
Persian Medallion detail
Persian Medallion detail
​Its intricate and detailed design is clearly imitative of needlecraft: the “medallions” in the pattern look like satin stitch. There is also a motif that was used regularly by Fenton as a background “filler” - it has previously been though to represent overlapping scales, but an authority on needlecraft has informed us that the “scale filler” is in fact a perfect rendering of needle lace.

The same pattern can be seen on many other Fenton patterns, like Fentonia, Orange Tree, Leaf Chain and Cherry Chain.
Persian Medallion plate
Blue Persian Medallion plate, Fenton


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It's interesting to consider if the Persian Medallion design also had other inspirations. 

On the right is a lacework design that is very reminiscent of the pattern. It is a lace sideboard runner from 1896.
Lacework runner
Hearts and Flowers, Northwood
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This is another design that imitates embroidery stitches. Again, it is essentially a highly stylised floral design, and Hearts and Flowers also takes iridescence very well.

It is a complex and beautifully composed design made up of repeated motifs. The “hearts” appear as though they were crafted in 
satin stitch, and there are also elements of blanket stitch and needle lace.

The pattern first appeared in the shape of a bowl and a comport in Butler Brothers catalogue ads of 1912.

Hearts and Flowers detail
Hearts and Flowers bowl
Ice blue Hearts and Flowers bowl, Northwood
Hattie, Imperial
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At first glance, Hattie owes more to geometry than embroidery. It is an intricate and complex design that certainly seems to have been drawn up using mathematical instruments.

But look more closely and you will see that the buttonhole bars motif that is repeated all over the design is in fact imitative of embroidery stitchwork.  
Imperial Hattie detail
Imperial Hattie bowl
Purple Hattie bowl, Imperial. Seeck Auctions
Embroidered Mums, Northwood

​Embroidered Mums was named for its obvious inspiration: the flowers are picked out in satin stitch, and a perfect representation of serpentine hem stitch can be seen on either side of the "greek key" border that encircles the pattern. 

Was Clara Northwood working on her needlework when Harry thought it would be perfect for a new design in Carnival Glass?
Embroidered Mums detail
Embroidered Mums
Blue Embroidered Mums bowl, Northwood

Dragon and Lotus, Fenton - spot the similarity! The image below is from a book, "Embroidery" by Grace Christie, 1909, which goes into great detail about which stitches should be used to create the embroidery.

​Fenton's mould makers translated it into Carnival Glass to spectacular effect in the centre of Dragon and Lotus.

1909 book on embroidery
Dragon and Lotus detail
Dragon and Lotus detail
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​Big Basketweave, Dugan - a perfect match to basket filling stitch
Big Basketweave
Big Basketweave unswung vase, marigold. Seeck Auctions

Fentonia
, Fenton - motifs of buttonhole bars and needle lace abound!
Fentonia
Fentonia tumbler, blue
In Part Three, we show some of Glen's amazing drawings of some of the popular Carnival Glass patterns that were inspired by needlecraft. The drawings show in fine detail, the skills of the Carnival Glass designers and mould makers. 

Back to Part One
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