Circular heather motif

Circular heather motif, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, about 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

Circular heather motif
Illustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book' by Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

The flowers in this embroidery have been stitched in a naturalistic manner whilst the stem curves round in an arch to fit with a series of designs based on circular motifs. Florence Caulfield suggested pink, mauve or yellow colour schemes.

Afrikander arondbloem

Afrikander arondbloem, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, About 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

Afrikander arondbloem
Illustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

In this example of a design in Florence Caulfield's series of circular motifs, it has been difficult to stylise the flower but easier to deal with the leaves. This plant would be described today as Gladiolus maculatus, commonly known as the brown afrikander.

Disa grandiflora

Disa grandiflora Pride of Table Mountain, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, About 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

Disa grandiflora 'Pride of Table Mountain'
Illustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

This is the only illustration Florence Caulfield gives of the use of tightly placed blanket stitches in the creation of her flower embroideries. The stitch make a strong outline round the edge of the colour blocks.

Black or feather head protea

The black or feather head protea, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, About 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

The black or feather head protea
Illustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

This very beautiful rendering of the flower shows Florence Caulfield's skill in capturing the character of plants using simple stitches and a limited palette. She taught the importance of observing the outline and here straight stitches have suggested the texture of the bud.

Afrikander lily gladiolas

Afrikander lily gladiolas, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, About 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

Afrikander lily gladiolas
Iillustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

One of the characteristics of Florence Caulfield's plant embroidery was that she generally avoided shading in favour of solid blocks of colour. Perhaps because the proportion of stems and leaves here is so high, she suggested shading as a possible alternative to the three-colour shade version shown here.

This plant is probably what would be described today as gladiolus carinatus, commonly known as the blue or mauve afrikander.

Heather

Heather, illustration from The Illustrated Needlework Book by Florence Caulfield, About 1910. Pressmark 43 B 154

Heather
Illustration from 'The Illustrated Needlework Book'
Florence Caulfield
About 1910
Pressmark 43 B 154

This highly stylised version of heath creates a very successful embroidery design.