Embroidery, Business Enterprise and Philanthropic Ventures in Nineteenth Century Britain - Thesis

Aug 27, 2026

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Embroidery as a nineteenth-century practice is examined through the lens of women’s business enterprise and philanthropy in Britain. The study revises traditional views by arguing that “art embroidery” extended beyond home-based labor into commercial organization, marketing techniques, and employment dynamics. It explores entrepreneurial ventures, the role of art institutions in educating embroiderers, and the gender-history implications of this predominantly female workforce, including later overseas decline.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages300

Reading Time12 h 36 min

AccessFree to download

REFERENCE

ProQuest publication information

Contents

Chapter 1 The Commercialisation of Art Embroidery

SheffieldHallamUniversity Embroidery,business enterprise and philanthropic ventures in Nineteenth Century BritainCLUCKIE,Linda Available from the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive (SHURA)at:http://shura.shu.ac.uk/3199/ A Sheffield Hallam University thesis This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or mediumwithout the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work,fullbibliographic details including the author,title,awardinginstitution and date of the thesis must be given. Please visit http://shura.shu.ac.uk/3199/and http://shura.shu.ac.uklinformation.html forfurther details about copyright and re-use permissions. 1018353569 Return to Learning Centre of issueFines are charged at 50p per hour # REFERENCE ProQuest Number:10694365 All rights reserved INFORMATION TOALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscriptand there are missing pages,these will be noted.Also,if material had to be removed,a note will indicate the deletion. ProQuest 10694365 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017).Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17,United States CodeMicroform Edition ◎ ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC.789 East Eisenhower ParkwayP.O.Box 1346Ann Arbor,MI 48106-1346 Embroidery,Business Enterprise and Philanthropic Venturesin Nineteenth Century Britain Linda Cluckie A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements ofSheffield Hallam Universityfor the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2006 In the nineteenth century a new form of needlework‘Art Embroidery'fuelledentrepreneurial ventures.The significance of these ventures will be explored andthe contribution made by women employed in this industry,investigating theirprevalent working practices and relating this to our understanding of genderhistory.The embroidery ventures stimulated the commercial side of embroideryin the late nineteenth century,mobilising commercial activity through numerousagencies,department stores,depots and charitable institutions.Embroidery tookon the form of a major commercial enterprise,and in examining these importantdevelopments,the thesis will evaluate the organisational structure of theseenterprises,their marketing techniques and their relationship to theirpredominantly female workforce.The theme of business enterprise is the conduitwhich runs throughout,yet it is not intended as an economic history,ratherbusiness history as social history. The growth and development of ‘Art Embroidery'in Britain circa 1870-1890 will be explored giving special consideration to the support received fromthe art establishment in designing for and educating embroiderers.The artfraternity promoted embroidery as a commodity providing income for women.Finally the thesis will examine the decline of the embroidery business in theBritish Isles,as work was sent overseas where labour was cheaper. The thesis will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of theembroidery business,the dynamics shaping its development and the role ofwomen employed in the industry.In particular the thesis will reveal the economicsignificance of the embroidery business to female employment in the nineteenthcentury,which has been hidden from view,mainly due to employing outworkers,a hidden workforce.Though a social history,the thesis will demonstrate thishidden workforce made a contribution to the British economy. Contents Pages Chapter 1 The Commercialisation of Art Embroidery3-31 Chapter 2 The Genesis of Art Embroidery32-65 Chapter 3 History and Subsistence66-99 Chapter 4 Morris &Co.-The Family Firm 100-134 Chapter 5The Leek Embroidery Society 135-174 Chapter 6Selling the Orient: Departmen

FAQs

What central argument does the thesis make about art embroidery in nineteenth-century Britain?

Embroidery is argued to extend beyond women’s home-based confinement, functioning instead as an instrumental means to supplement and support women’s incomes through organized business ventures.

How does the thesis connect embroidery to women’s employment and gender history?

The research investigates work organization and employment practices, showing how embroidery provided important pecuniary employment and can be understood as business within broader gender-history developments.

What factors does the thesis identify in the decline of the embroidery business?

The thesis links decline to overseas outsourcing, where labour was cheaper, reducing domestic opportunities within the British Isles.

Aug 27, 2026

Upload by Patrick