400 years of embroidered flowers from around the world.
Flowers are one of the most popular images depicted in embroidery. Beyond their obvious visual appeal, flowers offer countless creative and symbolic possibilities in the use of colour, shape and pattern.
This new exhibition delves deep into the Embroiderers’ Guild Collection to reveal fascinating and inspiring examples of stitched flowers – both modern and historical – from around the world. Some are exquisite floral forms produced in professional workshops, others are bold, contemporary artworks created by individual designer/makers. You’ll see a wide variety of embroidery styles and techniques on display, including the use of more unexpected materials such as fish scales, animal hair and fruit and vegetable plastic net bags!
Why not come along and be inspired by 400 years of floral embroidery! The exhibition will run throughout 2024.
This exhibition is included in the Museum Ticket. Find out more about our ticketing prices and opening times here.Â
Previous exhibitions
Sew New!
During the pandemic (2020 – 2022) the Embroiderers’ Guild was very fortunate to receive a series of important gifts and bequests, all of which have enriched its collection historically and visually. This exhibition, Sew New!, showcased some of these acquisitions, with a particular focus on the work of named embroiderers who have contributed to the development of embroidery in their lifetime, in terms of their own work, their teaching and their authorship. Featured artists included Jan Beaney, Joy Clucas and Richard Box, together with Eirian Short, Eugenie Alexander and Sian Martin, to name a few.
Watch
Will Phillips, Discover Bucks Keeper of Social History, discusses his top 5 exhibits from the collection in the film below.
Previous exhibitions
Embroidered Birds
A previous exhibition was based on amazing examples of Embroidered Birds from the thousands of pieces in the collections. Inspiration for this display came from one of the Guild members publications and the local Guild volunteers provided invaluable support in choosing and helping to display the lovely pieces on show.
Watch Curator Will Phillips talk through the wonderful Embroidered Birds exhibition
