Tudor Embroidery Database

Tudor Embroidery Database Criteria and Definitions

General Information:

• Artwork Title: Include the title of the artwork (if available) or a brief description (e.g., “Portrait of a Lady”).
• Artist (if known): If the artist is known, include their name and any relevant information (e.g., nationality, artistic movement).
• Date: Include the creation date of the artwork (estimated if necessary).
• Museum or Collection: Specify the museum or collection where the artwork is housed (if available).
• Image URL (if available): Include a link to a high-quality image of the artwork, if possible.

Embroidery Details:

• Color (Select one):
  • Single Color: Choose one primary color from the list: red, black, white, or pink.
  • Polychromatic: If the embroidery uses more than one primary color, select this option.
• Decoration (Select all that apply):
  • No: No additional embellishments are present beyond the embroidery thread itself.
  • Spangles: Shiny, usually metallic, decorative discs sewn onto the fabric.
  • Metallic Thread: Thread made entirely or partially of metal, giving the embroidery a metallic sheen.
  • Spangles and Metallic Thread: Both spangles and metallic thread are used in the embroidery.
  • Unknown: If the decoration is unclear from the image or description, choose this option.
• Garment (Select all that apply):
  • Dress: Self-explanatory
  • Sleeves: Self-explanatory
  • Partlet: A separate garment covering the neck and chest.
  • Collar: Self-explanatory
  • Ruffs/Cuffs: Decorative necklines or sleeve trimmings made of gathered fabric.
  • Undershirt: A garment worn underneath other clothing.
  • Other: If the garment type is not listed or unclear, choose “other” and elaborate in the description field.
  • Unknown: If the garment type is impossible to determine, choose this option.
• Made For (Select one):
  • Women: The garment or portrait depicts clothing typically worn by women in the Tudor period.
  • Men: The garment or portrait depicts clothing typically worn by men in the Tudor period.
  • Unknown: If the gender of the person depicted is unclear or the garment type doesn’t have a clear gender association, choose this option.
• Spacing (Select one):
  • Dense: The embroidery stitches or motifs closely cover the fabric with minimal negative space.
• Balanced: The embroidery stitches or motifs are evenly distributed on the fabric with a moderate amount of negative space.
• Loose: The embroidery stitches or motifs are spread out on the fabric with a significant amount of negative space.
• Shapes (Select one):
  • Geometric: The embroidery primarily uses geometric shapes like squares, circles, triangles, etc.
  • Organic: The embroidery primarily uses shapes inspired by nature, like leaves, flowers, or flowing curves.
• Depicts (Pick all that apply): LFIAOU
  • Leaves: Self-explanatory
  • Flowers: Self-explanatory
  • Insects: Self-explanatory
  • Animals: Self-explanatory
  • Other: If there are other identifiable motifs not listed, choose “other” and elaborate in the description field.
  • Unknown: If no motifs are clearly identifiable, choose this option.
• Shading (Select one):
  • None: The embroidery uses a single thread color with no attempt to create shading or depth.
  • Diapering: A repetitive geometric pattern used to create a background texture for the embroidery.
  • Naturalistic: Shading techniques are used to create a more realistic appearance of depth and dimension in the embroidered motifs.
  • Unknown: If the shading technique is unclear from the image or description, choose this option.

Level of Detail (Select one):

1. Highly stylized:
   • Motifs are very basic and geometric, with minimal variation or detail. (Think squares, triangles, simple lines)
   • Limited color palette (often single color or few basic colors)
   • Flat and graphic appearance, lacking depth or dimension
2. Moderately stylized:
   • Motifs are recognizable shapes but lack intricate details.
   • May use a few basic geometric or organic shapes combined (e.g., squares with stylized flowers)
   • Limited color variation, but might have some basic shading or outlining for suggestive depth.
3. Moderately detailed:
   • Motifs are clearly recognizable and may depict figures, objects, or nature.
   • Some variation in detail within the motifs themselves (e.g., basic flower shapes with a few petals)
   • May use a wider range of colors, but shading techniques are still basic (e.g., flat shading or basic outlining).
4. Highly detailed:
   • Motifs are intricate and depict realistic forms with a good degree of detail.
   • Complex shapes and figures with clear definition (e.g., detailed flowers with individual petals and veins)
   • Rich color palettes with sophisticated shading techniques to create depth and dimension (e.g., naturalistic shading, blending)

Examples:

• Highly stylized: A simple geometric pattern of squares and triangles in a single color.
• Moderately stylized: A stylized floral motif with basic flower shapes and some outlining to suggest depth.
• Moderately detailed: A portrait miniature featuring a person with recognizable facial features but limited shading.
• Highly detailed: A portrait miniature featuring a person with detailed facial features, hair, and clothing with intricate embroidery patterns using various colors and shading techniques.