Samantha Taylor
Needlepoint Catalog - Needlepoint
Wall Hanging - Eight Needlework Designs Joined Together.
The four central motifs are framed by four different
border designs
Los
Oficios de Talavera - (The Trades of Talavera) - Rug
Kits Composed
of - Four
Central Motifs - 10 mesh - 15.5 x 15.5 inches - ( 39 x 39 cm.
) each design
Four Different
Heraldic Borders - 10 mesh - 37.2 x 6 inches ( 94.5 x 15 cm.
) each design
Copyright 1996 Jan Voich
Samantha
Taylor Needlepoint - Trades of Talavera Needlepoint Wall Hanging
- Needlepoint for Rustic - Modern or Spanish Style Homes
The grandest challenge
of recreating ceramic tile into this needlepoint wall hanging was in the selection of the yarn. We stitched a central motif - four times before we found the colors to successfully
resemble the luminosity of the actual tiles. Interpreting freehand
paint strokes into dots of colored fibers was also a very challenging
process - until the final piece showed - again - that the tile
was successfully adapted.
History of
Spanish Ceramics
The
beauty of this needlepoint stands alone - however a history of where
the tiles are from - begins back in the tenth Century when the Caliph
of Persia - received a gift of thousands of pieces of porcelain
from the Emperor of China. The Persian craftsmen were amazed at
the white and blue glazes - however they could not unravel the
secret of the Chinese glazes - therefore inventing their own
techniques to resemble the effect.
Baghdad
potters exported their wares all across North Africa - and many
Islamic potters migrated to Morocco and eventually to Moorish
Spain - bringing with them their secret techniques - mixing
these with the local minerals and oxides (which make the paints).
Merchants established in Majorca shipped much of this pottery from
Spain - to Italy and it became forever associated with the island.
After
the Moors were thrown out of Spain - majolica potters began small
factories in Italy near the mineral rich banks of the Metauro river
near the towns of Deruta - Gubbio - and Faenza where the finest
clay deposits and minerals for glazes were to be found in grand
abundance. In the 16th century luster glazes similar to those used
in Valencia and Talavera - Spain were developed in Umbria as well
as metallic gold and a ruby red iridescent glazes. Again the local
minerals change - which produces the unique colors of each type
of European Ceramics.
Eventually Majolica crafters settled in many other parts of the world where the craft developed into new and distinctive styles. In Holland
it became delicate blue and white Delftware - in Germany it became
the dainty Dresden porcelains. The French name reflected its Italian
origin - faience after the city of Faenza - and in the New
World it was called Talavera after the potters who immigrated to
Puebla - Mexico from Talavera de la Reina - Spain between 1550 and
1570.
We
are now documenting as much information about Spanish tiles - as
they are completely disappearing. The art of tile painting was passed
on from father to child for centuries - however - the children do
not want to be artisans now. They are leaving for the big cities
of Spain and the art is no longer alive. Very little has been written
about Spanish tiles in English and most of what we write is collected
from conversations from artisans - collectors and other experts.
Then we must use our criteria - as the Spanish love to improvise
- and some stories never seem to coincide with others. The majority
of the information we collect may be found on these pages of Our
Internet Needlepoint Catalog - as well as inside the individual
products.
We are
working some 14th century Manises designs into needlepoint at this
time. It is a large collection and will take years to complete -
however they are extremely beautiful and will also be translated
into wall hangings - rugs and singular pieces of different sizes.
This is very exciting for us as we add these to Our Needlework Catalog.
Visit
this ery Informative Needlepoint Site http://www.needlepoint.org/index.php - which shows an amazing evolution in needlework - mostly
within the United States.
Payments
are processed via Paypal and a Paypal account is not required.
The paypal system will guide you through the transaction using
any major credit card or a PayPal account.
Availability:
Usually ships in 2-3 days
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European
Customers - may use - PayPal above - or the following links > Wall
Hanging

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