This is a very interesting framed embroidery which is attributed to George Bain - or follower of George Bain (1881 - 1968). He was a key figure in the revival of Celtic art in the 20th century and devoted much of his life to the study of the intricate decorative designs used by ancient Picts and Celts.
Bain studied at Edinburgh’s School of Applied Art, Edinburgh College of Art, and the Royal College of Art, London before taking the post of Principal Art Teacher at Kirkcaldy High School, which he held until his retirement in 1946.
This beautiful embroidery relates to an image reproduced from a roundel in the Book of Kells and published by the father of the modern Celtic Revival, George Bain.
From an early date, George Bain showed a great interest in Highland Culture especially in ancient stone slabs, crosses many of which are to be found in his native Caithness. This interest prompted him to a study of Pictish and Celtic art forms. He developed patterns which he applied to textiles, rugs and metals. At an International Collection of Embroidery mounted by J. & P. Coates Ltd. of Paisley at the Empire Exhibition of 1938 in Glasgow, examples of George Bain’s Celtic Embroidery designs were judged to be amongst the most outstanding specimens to be displayed.
In 1951 Bain published the definitive book Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction. This book remains the most influential book on the subject and has been in print continuously since 1972.
This is a very interesting vintage Celtic embroidery and shows three entwined men - it is embroidered on a thick weave buff cotton material. The colours are nice and bright. It is very nicely embroidered with thick embroidery threads in a myriad of subtle colours - and obviously relates to Bain's Book of Kells design work.
The frame is just lovely and was an expensive one and a most special choice - it is made of bird's eye maple with a decorative Art Deco inlay all around - which would suggest a probable date of around the 1930s - which would fit in with the Coates exhibition, as mentioned above. However, this would have to remain speculative.
The frame size is 54.5 cm x 55.5 cm. The image size is 37 x 31 cm.
My price is based on the inherent quality of the item, the beautiful period frame and the textile that comes with it, and the possibility of it being a work by Bain himself.
Sadly, I would be unable to post this item outside of the UK. The postage quoted here is for UK delivery with Parcelforce48.