The tulip is one of the main elements in Schwalm whitework designs. Tulip shapes can be modified indefinitely. They have also undergone changes in Schwalm over the centuries.
This blog post aims to trace this in broad outline.
While the tulip figures in early Schwalm whitework were were multi-
Detail from a parade cushion border – 18th century
and often small-part,
Detail from a door hanging border – 18th century
the filling patterns that were now in fashion required more space.
Detail from a bed covering, dated 1793 – Museum of the Schwalm in Ziegenhain
With the rise of Schwalm whitework toward the end of the 18th century, tulips were usually depicted in a single piece and in medium sizes. Smaller tulips were also available to fill the spaces. The bases of the tulips were usually only slightly rounded, often straight. The upper edges were slightly curved, rarely showing deeper incisions. The shapes varied – from long and narrow to wide-opening at the top to short and wide.
Detail from a bed covering, dated 1793 – Museum of the Schwalm in Ziegenhain
There have also been occasional split tulip shapes.
Detail from a bed covering, dated 1793 – Museum of the Schwalm in Ziegenhain
Initially they had a drop shape in the calyx,
Detail from a bed covering, dated 1823
but soon heart and
Detail from a parade cushion border, dated 1821
tulip outlines were added as calyx designs.
Detail from a parade cushion border, dated 1821
While the tulips were initially mostly medium-sized, very large motifs were added in the following decades.
Detail from a parade cushion border, dated 1804
Detail from a parade cushion border, dated 1842
Often their proportions were not adapted to the other motifs.
Detail from a parade cushion border – 19th century
Detail from a parade cushion border – 19th century
All of these representations remained constant throughout the 19th century.
It wasn’t until the 1920s that they changed significantly. Examples can be seen in the next blog post.
