Handwoven and embroidered Guatemalan wall decorations are traditional Mayan folk art pieces created using backstrap looms and intricate hand-embroidery techniques like brocade, darning, and randa stitching. Key Features of Guatemalan Wall Textiles Backstrap Loom Weaving: Panels are woven on a traditional backstrap loom where the weaver uses body tension to control the warp and weft threads. Pattern Darning and Brocade: Artisans use supplementary-weft techniques—such as brocade (randa) and darning—to build geometric, zoomorphic, and nature-inspired motifs like quetzals, deer, horses, and floral mandalas. Regional Craftsmanship: Many distinct pieces originate from highland communities like Chichicastenango and Santiago Atitlán, where multi-purpose textiles like tzutes or ceremonial huipils are crafted.Hand woven striped cotton, black back ground,brown and white tones. Large central band has 4 large quetzel birds, 2 narrow bands have 11 figures in pattern darning. Ends are fringed.embroidery, wall hanging, pattern darning, south america, 1960-80

Worked by donor after her trip to Japan in 1965 and described by her in the News sheet No. 38 June. A Japanese embroidery called Kogin.Natural evenweave linen with an overall design of pattern darning using red stranded cotton. Lined with same linen. Front flap tapers to a point. Edged in red, knotted and wrapped stitching (Antwerp).MIT 1963embroidery, bags, 1960-80, australia, darning

Navy blue even weave linen with a bold design of 2 bands of pattern darning, each 11 cms wide, in white in centre of mat, and finished at each end with small plaits to form a fringe.embroidery, mats, darning, finland, 1980-2000

All made of even weave linen and using pattern darning in white cotton. A. Red mat (fringed) with large central diamond. B. Navy blue with large central diamond C. Orange with 2 interlaced diamonds D. Navy with 2 bands of running stitch (Kogin) embroidery.embroidery, mats, 1980-2000, japan, darning (kogin)

Red and black hand woven fabric with white darning and central design of two vases of flowers with a similar border. The mat has fringed ends.france, embroidery, mats, darning, flower, flowers

Gift of the late Mrs Lily Louch, see donor.Cream cotton huckaback fabric with pattern darning in bands of green and cream. The cloth is lined with a printed cotton fabric.embroidery, huckaback, pattern darning, 1900-20, swedish darning

Part of a collection of Iranian embroideries, selected by Lady Amies on a trip in 1976.Loosely woven black material with pattern darning in red, orange, green and white plus other stitchery. Made to be attached to a plain bodice.embroidery, surface stitchery, iran, garments, 1960-80, middle east, pattern darning

Label on large mat is "Samsun" "Olgunlasma" Enstitusu. From the Embroidery Institute in Samsun on the Black Seas coast of Turkey, established to teach young Turkish girls the old traditional embroidery.One large and a pair of mats in beige linen embroidered in wool in pattern darning in red, black, beige, cream and green, with borders of rust. The ends of the mats are finished with a fine cream macramé fringe which finishes with little bows above the tassels.Label on large mat is "Samsun" "Olgunlasma" Enstitusu.embroidery, pattern darning, 1960-80, turkey

Examples of pattern darning and needle weaving. Small floral motif with bow in the centre.embroidery, darning, sampler, early 19th century, england

Worked by donor after a trip in 1965 and described by her in News Sheet No. 38 June. A Japanese Embroidery called Kogin.Navy blue woollen material with pattern darning in Kogin style in blue, green and white.MITembroidery, stoles, 1960-80, australia, darning, kogin

Probably made for a blouse.Natural coloured cotton (fine) with pattern darning in red, with small satin stitch dots in navy and green.embroidery, garment, darning, 1900-20, mid european

Part of a curtain said by the donor to have been worked in Sicily in the 1930's.Natural coloured, fine, loosely woven even weave cotton or sool. A 530 mm band of pattern darning in black with blue and yellow roses.darning, curtain, 1920-40, sicily, furnishings

Embroidered by Miss Edith Doyle and made up by Vice Regal Tailors, Thelwell, Collins St. Melbourne, for Mr Hugh Murcott of the Government House staff, Melbourne. The waistcoat was given to the donor by his daughter.Design of pattern darning in gold and bright blue on white huckaback fabric. The waist coat is outlined with brown piping, and has 6 buttons on shanks - bottom one a replacement.embroidery, garments, 1900-20, australia, darning

Fine central square of silk or cotton, surrounded by smaller squares in alternating designs of pattern darning and whipping, satin stitch and large cross stitches. Edging is bobbin lace.embroidery, drawn thread, c. 1900

Made at the Arts and Crafts Centre by local embroiderers trained to reproduce the classical Iranian designs. Selected by Lady Amies on a trip to Iran in 1976.Edging strip for a dress. The design is seen in Persian carpets. Loosely woven black material with pattern darning in orange, red, blue and green with the addition of other embroidery stitches. Could be a sash.embroidery, band, 1960-80, middle east, surface stitchery

A fine example of a darning sampler. It shows examples of fine darning in silk with a variety of patterns suitable for the mending of household linen. A number of squares and crosses surround a central motif of flowers in a basket in pattern darning and outline stitch. Wooden frame.embroidery, darning, samplers, early 19th century, england

Darning sampler on natural linen in mainly red thread. It shows a large variety of darning patterns.embroidery, darning, sampler, england, early 19th century

A darning mushroom such as this was a common household item in Australia up to the 1950s. Socks were mostly made of wool and when holes appeared, (particularly in the heel) they had to be darned, usually in a criss-cross pattern. The darning mushroom gave the darner a good smooth and stable surface. Many of these darning tools were homemade. The darner could also have been used to mend torn sleeves or other items of clothing. Some people may still use a darning mushroom today but in general socks are not darned but disposed of when holes appear. This darning mushroom has no known local provenance but it is a good example of a household item of times past. This is a light-coloured wooden darning tool. The mushroom-shaped top is attached to a handle which is elongated at the bottom end and has a slight ridge near the base and a small hole at the end. There are some pit marks on the top surface. darning mushroom, social history, history of warrnambool

Made by Donor's grandmother.Fine white linen sampler with darning in brown. Hem stitch edge in the pattern of tea towels and other items of the time including button holes.embroidery, darning, samplers, late 19th century, holland

Purchased by donor for his wife who was a Guild member, now deceased.Rectangular woven ecru silk fabric ground. Silk, pattern darned motifs include triangular amulets, large diamonds, and regular repeat small geometric spot pattern. Main pattern along both ends. Self fringe, both ends.darning, stole, 1960-80, west pakistan

Small card in bag "GULLU BACI" may be the design name, or the place it originally came from.Cream linen, pattern darned in striped designs in colours of aqua, red, brown, yellow and blue and mauve, front only. 10cm fringe of cream macrame. One bead (to ward off the evil eye?) is attached to fringe. Handmade shoulder strap and attached tassels in coloured wools.embroidery, darning, bags, 1960-80, turkey

Vest knitted during WWII from darning wool which was the only wool not rationed in Britain during the war years.Maroon Fair-Isle vest with Nordic style patterns in white. Made with darning wool. Maroon metal zip on right hand shoulder.costume accessories, female

The handmade basket has a variety of pieces of vintage sewing items as listed in the detailed Description. These would have been used in the home for repairs as well as pieces sewn. Mrs Pratt owned the sewing basket and it's contents - she lived in Beenak Road, Wandin, Victoria.An open rectangular shaped cane woven sewing basket with three bands of green and tan raffia woven around the sides. It had a lid which is missing but there is one twisted wire loop where the lid would have been attached. Inside are various pieces of vintage sewing items including; large and small cotton reels with cotton thread, very small cotton cardboard reels with thread, plastic container of pins, a handmade wooden darning mushroom, a brightly coloured tin of pins and needles, two short zips, a piece of embroidery material stamped with a pansy pattern to sew, a Birch brand packet of sewing needles, a Delyta brand "Nu-Bras" Brassiere Repair Set, two "Mendex" Cuff Savers for Men's Trousers, a Happy Home Needle Book with a few needles, and a paper pattern for Cross Stitch. See above for the brands and details of the sewing items included in the basket.containers, sewing, baskets, sewing equipment

The domestic sewing box would have been used in the home.A brown varnished rectangular wooden lidded Sewing Box with a lift out top section which has 16 varying sized compartments for storing sewing accessories. There is a has a hollow area underneath the tray. The lid is attached with brass hinges and it has a brass lock and small key. There are several sewing items included - cotton reels and thread, assorted darning thread for hosiery, wool and nylon threads, a box of black pins, assorted sewing needles, thimbles, small decorative sewing scissors, black rolled tape, mixed buttons, hooks and eyes, nickel plated fittings for hats, vintage stocking hooks, a stick of white chalk, two (one green and one ivory) antique cotton thread winders and a medium sized vintage safety pin.a Variety of brands of items include - 'Rite Tone', 'Della Darn' 'C No Darn', 'Clark's Filosheen' hosiery thread, 'Barbour's Linen Wax Thread', 'The Flora MacDonald Best Steel Bodkins' 'National Hat Guard' nickel plated steel and brass fittings, 'Chadwick's Wool and Nylon' reinforcing mending thread, 'The Myrene Snap Studio' size 1 rustless press studs, 'The Pagoda Brand' rolled tape 5 yds, 'Cross Fox Brand' Best quality Steel Stems (long plastic headed pins), 'Toledo' brass thimble and a black box of 'F. Tayler & Co's Solid Headed Mixed Pins'. The brass lock has 'SECURE PATENT' stamped in to it on the inside of the edge of the front of the box. there is also a small VR with a tiny rounded pattern opposite the Patent sign. sewing equipment, sewing box, sewing, embroidery scissors, functional object

A brown cane oval woven sewing basket with a lid which has a pink studded silk lining. It contains - a pair of scissors, a cotton reel, embroidery thread, a bone handled crochet hook, tailors chalk, plastic containers, darning wool, press studs, bias binding, a doily and applique flowers.Crotchet cotton - Coates fast 609 colour Mercer Crotchet 60, 6 Black British Snap press studs - Guaranteed Rustless Size 1 Made in England, Standard darning Wool, Tailor's Chalk - RogeR & Gallet Paris, Scissors 101, 89 on one side of blades and Razor Silver Steel Saranti Forge Nogent france on the other side, Standard darning Wool Co Pty Ltd Stawell, Vic. Australia, steel crotchet hook has an embossed pattern on the handle, Superior Linen Thread No 30, Lindsay Thompson (Threads) Ltd Belfast, black pure flax linen thread 60 750 yards reverse twist.sewing baskets, baskets, sewing equipment

"The panel of needle weaving was taken from a remaining strip of a full length brown linen curtain. This was brought to Australia in the early years of the 20 th century but was possibly done much earlier. It is known to be of Russian workmanship and with a base of Russian drawn ground, round which was embroidered a primitive design showing several patterns of needle weaving in the detail. The central motif of two small animals, possibly bears, on either side of a mythical figure shows three designs of continuous border above and below the motifs is needle woven in a brighter coloured design. The donor was a member of the Guild who spent a considerable time in Great Britain, Western Europe and the Orient, including Russia, learning embroidery techniques at various schools of embroidery and bringing samples of local work back to Australia". Geraldine Amies (see Media) This was used as inspiration for the "Inspired by the Past" Exhibition by Lorna Law.Part of a larger piece in a coarse natural linen design appears to be of mythological significance - showing some animals (bears?). The back ground is Russian drawn ground and design is in needle weaving and surface stitchery.embroidery, cloths, early 19th century, russia, darning, surface stitchery, needleweaving pattern

From the Island of Naxos - using the King Pattern. Handwoven beige linen with an all over geometric design. A subtle red coloured silk thread is used for the embroidery which may be vegetable dyed.embroidery, fragment, 19th century, greece, darning