Embroidery and its history in the world

It is no exaggeration to say that embroidery has always existed. Even in mythology, the Greek goddess Athena was skilled in embroidery and weaving. When the name of such a powerful figure is associated with the art of embroidery, it is not surprising that this art is popular among the rich. For example, in medieval England, professional artisans produced fine embroidered silk garments for wealthy families and the upper echelons of society. Of course, this art was not only for the rich, in Eastern Europe, England, East Asia and South America, there were also popular art movements in this regard that served ordinary people.

The history of embroidery is just as diverse as the history of art aesthetics. Primitive man quickly realized that the stitches used to fasten animal skins together could also be decorative. Embroidery is an ancient hand art that was originally used to repair and modify clothes; Because clothing was so expensive to produce, old clothes were rarely thrown away and instead were modified using embroidery. With the passage of time, this art developed and gained a decorative aspect. In the following, we trace the evolution of this art by introducing the cultures that shaped it.

Embroidery and other arts related to weaving and needlework are believed to have originated in the East and Middle East. Sculptures, paintings and vases depicting the inhabitants of the various ancient civilizations of these regions show people wearing embroidered clothes.

Embroidered textiles can be traced back to 30,000 BC. In 1964, archaeologists in a Paleolithic cemetery in Russia found the fossilized remains of a hunter dressed in needlework. The clothes and boots of this hunter were sewn and decorated with ivory beads. This fossil is the oldest known evidence of this handicraft.

Egypt

Needlework was prominent in ancient Egypt until the 14th century BC. The most famous examples of embroidery in this period are the hand-stitched treasures of King Tutankhamen. These examples were buried with the pharaoh, ceremonial robes, decorative leopard skin and a collar with alternating rows of petals and blossoms, leaves and blue beads sewn onto papyrus.

china

Needle-embroidered textiles have also been discovered in Chinese tombs dating back to the 4th century BC. The oldest examples of embroidery from this period are in a tomb in Hubei province. This work has been described as a "treasure house of silk", ritual clothes embroidered with colorful mythological motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, etc.

Japan

Embroidery appeared in Japan in the 7th century. First, it was exclusively used for religious depictions and to represent the Buddha. But from the 14th century onwards, its techniques were also used to decorate everyday textiles, including the traditional dance costumes of bugako and other non-religious garments.

Europe

The first finds of embroidery in Sweden date back to the ninth and tenth centuries AD, which coincides with the period we call the Viking Age. Over the next two centuries, the art continued to flourish in Europe. During this period, the Christian Church began to grow and gain franchises in many countries. To show their power and wealth, they used very flamboyant and decorated clothes and ornaments.

The Bayeux Tapestry is a needlework tapestry that depicts the events that led to the conquest of England by the Normans in the eleventh century and shows it in full detail. This big curtain, which was built in the 11th century, is seventy meters long and half a meter wide, now only a part of it is left due to decay due to the passage of time.

India

Embroidery flourished in India in the 16th century. In India, embroidery with a "hook" (tambur needle) was very popular, because its beauty and elegance were favored by the Mughal dynasty. This style was used to decorate leather, wall hangings, and clothing, including the Indian saree. In the 18th century, Indian embroidery was regarded as the most profitable export commodity, as tambur embroidery had become immensely popular in England and France.

Embroidery in the Islamic world

In the 18th and 19th centuries, embroidery was an important art in the medieval Islamic world. Since embroidery was a sign of high social status in Muslim societies, it was very popular. In cities such as Damascus, Cairo and Istanbul, embroidery could be seen on handkerchiefs, flags, clothes, bedspreads, slippers, sheaths and even on leather belts. Muslim artisans used to embroider with a combination of thread, gold and silver. The oldest examples of Iranian embroidery that are available belong to the Seljuk period.

Industrial revolution and its effect on hand embroidery

What we know today as Koblen, around 1800, was known as a popular pastime among upper class women; which often had oriental motifs of plants and flowers and were inspired by goods imported from India to the West.

It can be said that since 1900, embroidery has become a hobby of ordinary people. This art was no longer done only on expensive silk, but cheaper materials were used to present it.

The industrial revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries changed the face of embroidery. Automation brought about by machinery allowed textiles, including embroidery, to be mass produced. In the mid-1800s, France paved the way for the future of machine embroidery. This method made production easier, cheaper and changed the foundation of handicrafts, because it reduced production costs and, as a result, became more accessible to the masses.

Hand embroidery lost some of its popularity with the introduction of number embroidery, canvas embroidery, Koblenz color printed patterns and machine embroidery.