Question:
I'm wondering if all the beads,
buttons, charms, etc will be considered
by future antique dealers as a mark
of the '90s, or will all the add-ons
become a permanent part of fine
stitchery?
Answer:
-I think that they will be a permanenet
addition, but I also believe that
they will date the pieces as well.
-Things will move on just as they
always have, and you are almost
certainly correct. Needlework styles
change just the same as any other
fashion - take a look at the sort
of embroidery done back in the 1960s
and see how dated it now looks.
-I don't think we will know for
a long time. This is a renaissance
of needlework and such things are
almost impossible to predict. Needlework
was all but dead during let's say
the 1940's -1950's (even the '30's
was not exactly a high point for
our arts.) People felt that it was
a mark of being domesticated and
they did not mean it as a compliment.
My mom always did it but I remember
long trips to New York City trying
to find just the right fabric or
beads for her next project ! DMC
threads, don't I wish, my first
Bedspread was made with Woolworth
thread ! What I believe, about not
only needlework, but everything
is that all of civilization is controlled
by swings of extremes. (imagine
a pendulum) Right NOW extreme Liberalism
is in control of America - but soon
(hopefully very soon!) the more
conservative virtues will be remembered
and our culture will correct itself,
naturally. The liberals are in charge
now, but only a fool thinks that
will last forever. I wish it were
different, but most humans still
react to things by broad swings,
back and forth. Nothing lasts forever
-nothing, Human, that is, and everything
including our interests & hobbies
are forever changing, though never
entirely disappearing.
If you look at the needlework of
the past it lasts at least 400 years
if all conditions work in its favor.
But look of how few doublets we
have from Shakespeare's time - gowns
from the 1700's. Not nearly as many
as were ever made. Look at the beautiful
black work of that time. We have
quite a few examples (particularly
in England where it was well received
and matured) but it's probably not
half as much as were ever made or
designed. Anything older than 400
years is more than likely very,
very rare. If it's rare few people
will be exposed to it or inspired
by it. (look at the embroidery of
the Middle Ages. All we actually
have are a few rare torn rags and
the printed patterns of the Renaissance.)
Our work is more than likely going
to exist in good shape at least
100 years, the colors will fade
but probably not as rapidly as the
colors of the last century. It will
inspire people for at least the
next century and if we have done
our work well, the 23rd. century.
300 -400 years in the future there
will be some examples, all in museums
though some might still be in the
hands of our descendents (well,
those of us who have descendents.)
There will be swings of the pendulum,
back and forth - sometimes, needlework
might be disdained ("oh, God, HOW
could they waste their talents on
something so domesticated !
Sometimes,
it will be loved and imitated. ("Hey,
Phil, guess what I found at the
antique store - a cross stitch picture
from the turn of the 20th. century,
I am going to try and imitate it
- look at this, beads and charms
- let's see if we can find any here
like them on Mars! Don't you JUST
love the 20th century look ? I get
so tired of white plastic and I
am going on that Deep Space mission
next year, I'll work on it when
I am on watch !") The Pendulum swings
- but rarely is anything completely
new and our responses are never
new because human nature is not
new. NOW to answer your question.
Yes, no doubt, they may fall out
of favor with needleworkers -and
be a sign screaming the date of
a piece. More than likely, for a
long time it won't be necessarily
that there ARE beads and charms
which date a piece , but which beads
and charms were chosen will date
our work as belonging to the late
20th. century. Some future expert
will look and say date the beads
to Mill House, 1999 color number****
and date the charms, also, to a
certain time and company. I do pray
that our race does not lose its
humanity and creativity in the future
and there are women who pick up
our needles once we are gone (and
a few men!) . Some of our work is
truly beautiful and I think it will
remain beautiful in all the centuries
to come.
