The Royal School of Needlework Studio is unique in the UK and is staffed by a highly-skilled hand embroidery team who have all been trained at the RSN. We have large workroom spaces enabling us to undertake a range of commissions including large-scale projects. All our commissions are bespoke pieces of work and hand-stitched in the UK. We carry out work for private individuals, interior designers and artists, as well as for places of worship, the military, livery companies, ceremonial and public organisations and venues.
The RSN embroiders for Dover Castle
In June 2009 we completed a prestigious embroidery commission for the Great Tower at Dover Castle, one of English Heritage's flagship sites, situated in Kent, South East England. The re-presented Great Tower shows how the castle may have looked on the occasion of a royal visit of the then monarch, King Henry II.
The RSN Studio created four embroideries for the project, designed by Kit Surrey, and using the same techniques and spirit of past embroiderers to produce specialist decorative work appropriate to the 12th century. These can now be seen on display along with other commissioned work by traditional crafts people.
The four embroideries took 1451 hours to complete by a team of 20 embroiderers over a period of just three months.
A variety of stitches have been used, true to the 12th century, including Bayeaux stitch, couching, stem, split and chain stitch. These have been worked in crewel wool on a background fabric of specially dyed and woven wool.
The King's Hall Backcloth features the lion rampant, the symbol of statehood, as its central design. The embroidery measures in total 3.90m x 2.50m and includes an azure blue wool canopy decorated with gold kid leather stars and a tester with fringe. This took 15 skilled embroiderers 600 hours to create. The claws are worked in black silk threads and a mixture of crewel wool and silk are used to embellish the lion's body. Freshwater pearls have been used around the lion's eyes.
The Guest Hall Backcloth shows a powerful King Henry II on his horse ready for battle. He is depicted without helmet so that all might see his face and be reminded of whose palace they are visiting. Measuring 4.10m x 2.60m this piece was produced in 450 hours by a team of 15 embroiderers. The crown and sword hilt are worked in gold kid leather and the hand-made lampwork beads (stones) decorating the harness were specially comissioned.
The King's Standard again shows the lion symbol reinforcing the message that all are in the presence of the English King. The piece (80cm x 2.48m) is worked with the same design on each side by one embroiderer and took 301 hours to complete.
The Altar Frontal is made from a white linen laudian cloth and embroidered with the Chi Rho - the Monogram of Christ . These are the first two letters of the Greek word "Christ" (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ). Gold thread 'Opus Anglicanum' or English Work is underside couching, a technique developed by English embroiderers and much prized around the world in the 12th and 13th centuries. Red silk is couched all around, both the gold design and the circle. The embroidery took 100 hours to complete by three embroiderers.
Contact Amanda Berry,Senior Studio Project Manager to discuss your commission or for more information.
E: studio.enquiries@royal-needlework.org.uk
T: +44 (0)20 3166 6940
