Several years ago, I was visiting with my sister-in-law and her sister. They showed me the beautiful tablecloth that was purchased on the island of Madeiran and had been in their family for years. The artistry is amazing.
An Example of a Madeiran Embroidered Tablecloth
Before spondylitis destroyed my fingers, I used to do embroidery. Simple patterns with some detailed. It was time consuming work and it was nothing like this!
This is just a portion of my sister-in-law’s tablecloth. The peacock pattern was created by embroiderers from Madeira. It’s incredible work, don’t you think? It has such fine detail from the face to the tail feathers.
The Women Of Madeira Are Embroidery Artists
Did you know that the women of Madeira are know for their fine embroidery work? It’s a traditional process, sewed by hand just like their ancestors did.
Their work is sought after the world over. They work in groups and one piece can take many weeks. The art has been done for centuries and has been handed down from generation to generation.
Watch How They Do It
This video is from the Bordal Madeira Hand Embroidery Factory. It gives you an idea of how a piece goes from an idea in the artist’s mind to a pattern on cloth to the final touches.
Did your female ancestors had a similar talent? Maybe they had one of these pieces in their home.
We bought cutwork embroidery in a Terceira factory where women were doing the work. Very intricate & beautiful. My grandmother’s, who are not Portuguese also did cutwork, though not so complex. An ancient & vanishing art.