Antiques & Collecting: Crewel embroidery

Some antique arts fade in popularity, but are never truly lost. Embroidery is one of them. There are surviving examples of embroidered fabric that date back thousands of years.

By comparison, the embroidery of 17th- and 18th-century Europe and Colonial America seems much more modern.

This was the heyday of the craft. It had grown increasingly accessible to amateurs and was established as an important part of women’s education.

Queen Mary II, who co-ruled England with her husband William III from 1689 to 1694, was known for the crewel embroidery practiced at her court.

“Crewel” is a broad term for embroidery made with wool thread. Many types of stitches are used and designs often have images like flowers and animals in vibrant colors and thick textures.

The furniture and decoration style known as William and Mary came to the American colonies a little later than the monarchs’ reign in England; the American William and Mary period is generally considered to have lasted from about 1690 to 1720.

This, of course, included embroidery. William and Mary furniture experienced a revival around the 1930s.

This vintage mirror, which sold for $600 at Leland Little Auctions, was made about that time. Its frame features crewel embroidery in the style of the 17th to 18th century, with traditional plants and animals, as well as a couple in period costumes.

I am closing an old country store. All the decor was made up of old antiques. I have two wooden molds for barrels or baskets and would like to know if they are worth anything.

The country-store look is a popular decorating style. Molds for baskets or barrels may interest collectors of antique tools, or a collector may want to display them as folk art.

Some basket molds can sell for high prices. Earlier this year, a signed Shaker basket mold, 9 inches in diameter and 23 inches tall including its maple handle, sold at auction for more than $500.

Basket makers’ tools without a known maker, date and origin sell for lower prices. Smaller, unsigned basket molds can sell for less than $50.

We recommend contacting an auction house that specializes in Americana, country antiques or folk art.

Tip: If a thread in a woven fabric, carpet or sweater pulls or tears, do not cut it. Get a crochet hook or large pin and weave the thread into the fabric.

Current Prices

Doll, Mattel, Barbie, Happy Holidays, Special Edition, blond, long hair, red dress, silver sash, box, 1988, 11 inches, $110.

Music, accordion, Venice, Bakelite, black, three buttons, faux mother-of-pearl keys, strap, case, Italy, mid-1900s, 7 1/2 x 15 inches, $260.

Furniture, chest, campaign, camphorwood, two parts, drop-down desk between two drawers over three long drawers, turnip feet, 1800s, 42 1/2 inches, $1,750.