Tips for embroidery collectors

As one of the founders of this art, Chinese brought embroidered art to a new level in the last century. Embroidery has become highly complex and exquisite, more elegant and covers a wider range. From paintings by masters, to patterns by designers, to landscapes, flowers and birds, dragons and phoenix, tigers and animals, portraits, oil paintings, tiles and ancient coins, it seemed all could be the subject of embroidery.

We should start from the appreciation and knowledge for collecting silk embroidery, to judge the value of embroidery products (their price, age, variety, artistry, product aspect, sizes and market).

1) Age. The earlier the age, the higher value of embroidery products would be.

2) Variety. In general, products should be higher than supplies, dresses are higher than the fabrics. Tapestry with embroidery are the favor. Robes and dresses in court are higher than apparel and folk costumes. Fan covers, purses and decorations with embroidery are the favor too, and also handcrafted silk carpets.

3) Artistic quality. Embroidery products can be different because of their artistic styles with different standards, or how the beauty to be addressed. Court styles were with fine materials, colors and designs or compositions were complex, works were fine with subtlety and richness. Folk Style were with imaginations and showed ideally freshness. Literati styles were more use of famous paintings. Boudoir style were very exquisite by woman who were not allowed going out but had lots of time in home. They embroidered for fun and their spirits with strong skills.

4) Rare items are more valuable. 5) Sizes matter. 6) Maintaining situation matters.

In order to gain more appreciation of embroidery products, collectors should study more history, visit museums, read literature review books, visit art and craft markets, get familiar with folk embroidery products, and practice to improve the sense and judgments of culture. Auction is the main collection source. Craft and antique shops are the good sources too. Old handicraft embroidery products still are largely out there and it is the best way if collectors can buy them directly from the owners.

Collectors could manage your collections by source their age, name, type, material aspects, textual research, and then record the information, number each of them. At other hand, do some cleaning and repair if it is needed to. Embroidery products are sensitive to sunlight, dry or wet conditions, and try to avoid mildew is also very important. Embroidery products is extremely difficult to clean, it is best to display them in frames.