Beaded Treasures
The Victorians, known for the beautiful extravagances of their homes, clothing, and jewelry, often added beads to adorn everyday items. Queen Victoria, who ruled Great Britain from 1837 to 1901, was the center of the Victorian cultural revolution in Western civilization. She greatly influenced many aspects of society, from furniture to clothing to social etiquette. Victoria, who adored the outdoors, often had flowers brought indoors so she could be closer to nature -- a practice that inspired the floral motifs found in Victorian homes. Antique needlework of that period often has intricately beaded flower motifs.
is adorned with a turquoise
beaded top and embellished
with plush velvet trim.
Often, floral motifs were stitched from colored needlework charts. Such charts became widely available for the first time after Germans perfected color printing presses in the 19th century. Pieces stitched from these beautiful charts were referred to as "Berlin work," because they were German in origin. The style, which commonly utilized simple tent stitches of colored wool and small beads, became popular in Europe and America in the mid-1800s.
beaded-rose center holds a
charming collection of beaded
handbags, coin purses, and
necklaces.
Black beads were a popular medium. When the queen's husband, Prince Albert, died in 1861, the monarch entered a 10-year period of mourning and seclusion. Her grief was reflected in the black beads that adorned much of her jewelry. Sympathetic Victorian needlecrafters often stitched black beads into their own designs.
Victorian beadwork adorned items ranging from frivolous to functional. This diminutive footstool is adorned with a turquoise beaded top and embellished with plush velvet trim. The hat rack with a lovely beaded-rose center holds a charming collection of beaded handbags, coin purses, and necklaces. The antique English oval beaded tray probably was once used for holding perfume bottles and jewelry on a vanity.
beaded tray probably was
once used for holding
perfume bottles and
jewelry on a vanity.
Functional pieces should be displayed and preserved with care. Beadwork is fragile and easily broken. Preserve it by sparing it from sunlight, extreme temperatures, and humidity. When displaying beaded pillows on a chair or sofa, place them only in areas where they will not be leaned upon.
