Page 347 - J. C. Turner "History and Science of Knots"

340 History and Science of Knots

so that he could buy grander items for his money, and thus demonstrate his
opulence to visitors to his home.

Modern Times

So the wife ran the home, which task consisted largely of organising the ser-
vants; even quite modest households had their complements of these. She also
played the pianoforte or other musical instruments, read `improving' litera-
ture, and did needlework. In the early- and mid-Victorian eras, Berlinwork
was overwhelmingly the most popular form of needlework practised. It re-
quired little skill other than the ability to hold a needle and follow a pattern,
stitch by stitch. By the 1880s Berlinwork was replaced in popularity by art
needlework. In 1872, the Royal School of Art Needlework was founded, and
in a very few years a real talent was needed to produce other than mediocre
embroidery; so macrame arrived on the scene to save our lady's reputation.

Fig. 2. A Picture Frame and a Wall Pocket-Examples from Louisa Walker's Book
It didn't require the fine needlework, the good light, and the good eyesight
that was necessary for the first-class embroidery; and, after all, it had been a
queenly pastime, so it was readopted with a vengeance. It rose in popularity