Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
November 13, 1983
By Jayne Mankin
Vigo County Historical Society
Petit point tapestry is ancient art form
The “masterpiece” tapestry of David and Saul is a treasure in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley.
The tapestry is a fantastic example of petit point, an art form that goes back many years. This beautiful tapestry by Mae Eldred (1840-1925) was stitched when she was 15 and attending Xavier Academy in Chicago. She married William H. Armstrong in 1865. He was a co-founder of Armstrong-Buntin Drug Company at Sixth Street and Wabash Avenue. He was also a mayor of Terre Haute.
The tapestry of David and Saul appears to be on imported Aubusson canvas which was very popular in the 1800s. Probably, some readers can remember when it was the custom for young ladies to be accomplished needle workers. It appears this young lady proved herself in every sense of the word.
The 20 by 24 picture was given to the museum by former residents Mr. and Mrs. Warner Paige St.
Needlepoint is achieved by simple stitching through canvas, using wool tapestry yarn and a Hunt needle. It has a long and interesting history which dates back to ancient times in Egypt, probably as far back as 3000 B.C. Archaeologists have also found examples of tapestry in ancient China, Persia, and India. Around 800 years ago the Chinese produced fine needlework done in silk cloth using silk thread.
The art of needlepoint also may be found in the Roman and Greek cultures. In the 16th century in France, the Gobelin tapestries became famous and are still available today, known as Madeira canvas.
At the same time, the famous Aubusson Tapestries came into being. . . and are cherished. This work originated with two Flemish workers who would go through the country and restore damaged tapestries that hung in churches and castles. They became renowned for their exacting fine work and museums today have many Aubusson Tapestries on exhibit.
King James I of England brought to his country a large number of craftsmen from Belgium to do tapestry work. This also had an economic value for England as it used wool which came from the sheep in that country.
The American needlepoint, influenced by English designs, did not follow the huge and heroic patterns that are seen in the earlier European tapestries. They used the more delicate patterns of flowers and birds known as Elizabethan and Jacobean designs. And they did more secular designs than the religious ones used in the original tapestries. Martha Washington worked one of the first known examples of American needlepoint. It can be seen in Mt. Vernon, Washington’s home.
In contemporary America, needlepoint is not limited to a favored few. It is now within the means and abilities of any person (young or old, female or male) to enjoy for pleasure and relaxation.
American needlepoint today is a new needle art that is fresh and vigorous, only restrained by its basic technique and common sense of proportion, beauty and humor. It is as varied, as the tastes, interests or the lives of its creators. It is original, individual, home made and mostly wonderful.
When American needlepoint is old enough to be a curator’s prize, displayed in museums, its rich variety will startle needle artists for centuries to come.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.