Crewel Embroidery (Border) c. 1938

Lawrence Peterson created this crewel embroidery border, though we don’t know precisely when. Crewel embroidery, using woolen yarn to decorate linen, was immensely popular in 17th and 18th century England and colonial America. This piece, made in the late 19th or early 20th century, references this earlier period through its stylized floral motifs and curvilinear design. But it also exists within a later context. By the late 19th century, the Arts and Crafts movement was reacting against industrialization and the mass production of goods. Practitioners revived traditional crafts like embroidery, emphasizing handwork and individual artistry. The border's design may reflect the influence of art schools and design reform movements of the period. Studying pattern books and historical textiles provides insight into the work's origins. This embroidery bridges historical revivalism and new approaches to design, reflecting changing attitudes towards craft and industry.