Two examples of Bargello patterns (Florentine work)

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Definition

Bargello is a type of needlepoint embroidery which consists of upright flat stitches. The name originates from a series of chairs found in the Bargello palace in Florence which had a flame stitch pattern. Needlepoint is a form of canvas work created on a mesh canvas. ... Gold Embroidery Cross-stitch embroidery, Hungary, mid-20th century Phulkari from Punjab region, India 15th century embroidered cope, Ghent, Belgium Elizabethan embroidery styles include blackwork on linen and dense patterns worked in colored silk and metallic threads on velvet or other rich fabrics Embroidery is the art or handicraft of... the Bargello For the type of embroidery, please visit Bargello (needlework) The Bargello, also known as the Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo (Palace of the People) is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence, Italy. ... Florences skyline Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ...

Traditionally it was executed in wool on canvas. Embroidery done this way is remarkably durable, it is well suited for use on pillows, upholstery and even carpets, but not for clothing. In most traditional pieces all stitches are vertical with stitches going over two or more threads.

Traditional designs are very colourful, and use many hues of one colour, which produces intricate shading effects. The patterns are naturally geometric, but could also resemble very stylised flowers or fruits.

Alternate Names

A number of alternative names are used by different scholars. These include:

• Florentine Work - After the fact that the Bargello Museum is in Florence.

• Hungarian Point (punto unghero) - In Italian, the Bargello is known as 'Hungarian Point' (Williams 1967: 5, Petschek 1997), indicating that the Florentines believed the technique originated in Hungary. Unfortunately, English embroidery vocabulary also includes the Hungarian Point, a diamond shaped stitch, so few English language books use this term to refer to Bargello.

• Flame Stitch (fiamma) - A type of Bargello motif in which zig-zag or flames are created. The chairs in the Bargello museum do use flame stitch motifs, but curved motifs are also common (see below), and these curved Bargello motifs would normally not be 'flame stitch', but would be called Bargello.

Because of the potential for confusion, most books written in English refer to the technique simply as as "Bargello" (Williams 1969, Kaestner 1972, Petscheck 1997).

History

As with many traditional crafts, the origins of Bargello are not well documented. Although early examples are from the Bargello Museum in Florence, there does exist documentation that a Hungarian connection is involved.

For one thing the Bargello Museum inventory identifies the chairs in its inventory as "17th century with backs and seats done in punto unghero (Hungarian Point)." (Williams, 1967:5). In the 18th century, Queen Maria Teresa of Hungary stitched Bargello and her work has been preserved in the Hungarian National Museum

Petschek (1997:7) also cites additional "legends" of Hungarian noblewomen practicing the craft including a Hungarian princess marrying into the de Medici family and a princess Jadwiga (Hedwig) of Hungary who married into the Jagiełło dynasty of Poland. The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... The Jagiellons were a royal dynasty which reigned in some Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century. ...

It is unknown if those were distinct developments or if they influenced each other. Both tend to be colorful, and use many hues of one color, which produces intricate shading effects. The patterns are naturally geometric, but often resemble very stylized flowers or fruits.

Modern Day Bargello

In modern patterns, the two styles of Bargello and Hungarian point are often combined, or even combined with other stitch techniques, and still called Bargello. Modern bargello also often incorporates horizontal stitches.

References

• Kaestner, Dorothy (1972) Four Way Bargello Scribners.
• Petschek, Joyce (1997) Beautiful Bargello Trafalgar Square.
• Williams, Elsa S. (1967) Bargello: Florentine Canvas Work Van Nostrand Reinhold.

External links

• Bargello needlework - further information, links, and photographs of both modern and traditional patterns
• Bargello - detailed analysis and possible evolution of Bargello, with historical examples and photographs