Silk Embroidery - Sunset on a Glorious Tradition

This proved to be a really special part of the ArtworkSmith trip. We visited Suzhou - one of the great silk embroidery centers in China. Because this beautiful art form is in danger of dying out, ArtworkSmith is very pleased to bring you some rare and wonderful works.

Traditionally, the skills for creating beautiful hand-sewn silk embroidery were transferred from generation to generation by "Siu-Nian" (pronounced "show neon" - embroidering woman). With increasing industrialization in China, few of the younger generation are drawn to learn these exacting skills.

The Siu Nian earned fame over the centuries for their exquisite and detailed silk imagery. Sometimes called "blind stitch" after the eye strain caused by finely sewn silk floss, the smooth texture of these pieces is amazing in it's own right. Fine embroidery requires great patience and attention to the tiniest details. Today, those skillful Siu-Nian can scarely be found among villages or even in rural areas. Few of them are still capable of producing great works. And, if they are able to hand sew one beautiful piece, it is often given to loved ones as a wedding gift. Very few of these awesome pieces are seen by the outside world.

Luckily, our studio got to know one little cooperative in Suzhou where some very skillful Siu-Nian still produce magnificient artworks. Rarely found elsewhere, these might be the last pieces of work produced by the aging Siu-Nian.

We appreciate their trust in us, and are honored that they let us represent them. We are very pleased to introduce their wonderful hand-sewn silk in our Embroidery Collection. Be sure to keep an eye on our growing Embroidery Collection, as we bring you new works from the Siu-Nian.






This article courtesy of http://www.embroideryinfoonline.com.
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