[Needlework pattern]. by (BERLIN WORK).

Engraved print (300 × 300 mm, sheet size 335 × 370 mm). Original gouache colouring in black, white, pink, red, green, orange and yellow. Upper right hand corner repaired, with a small black-and-white portion of the print supplied in ink and wash facsimile. Some old annotation.

A striking needlework pattern for Berlin-work. ‘Berlin wool work is embroidery with Berlin wools or any type of thread or beads on canvas by means of copying a coloured chart known as a Berlin pattern. Almost exclusively confined to the 19th century, Berlin wool derived its name from the wool that came from Merino sheep in Saxony. It was taken to Gotha to be spun and on to Berlin to be dyed... Prior to the introduction of Berlin patterns it was very rare to find any indication about the choice of colour or threads. Berlin patterns were always coloured by hand at first, until the emergence of industrial printing techniques’ (V&A). Though the patterns (which rarely survive) usually originated in Germany, Berlin work was enthusiastically practised by women all over Europe and in North America.