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Seamstress and textile and needlework historian Nina Sargaço holds one of the largest collections of textile artifacts in Brazil! Through the Facebook page Coleção Nina Sargaço – Museu Virtual, you can get a glimpse of the 15,000 items in her collection.
Beyond the curiosity of the items themselves, it is fascinating to follow the evolution of tools, clothing, accessories, and methods of making and teaching. For this post, we have selected 5 photos from the Virtual Museum:
The first shows postage stamps embroidered in the 1950s or 60s in Portugal and Spain. According to the collection's post, they were designed, printed at local shops, and distributed to thousands of women who earned a living by embroidering them at home on their domestic sewing machines. There are more examples in the virtual collection.
The next photo shows a page from the notebook of an American grandmother who was a seamstress and made special clothes for her granddaughter from infancy through early adulthood. The notebook spans from 1881 to 1915, showcasing the evolution of fashion during that period. It is full of details and fabric swatches. We have included just one page here, but you can see more designs and fabrics on the Facebook page.
Next is a piece of bobbin lace made with gold thread in the 18th century. The collection features more pieces like these, along with a post showing a contemporary lacemaker marveling at these historical items.
The last item is a notebook of fine crochet lace from the early 20th century. It contains 432 samples, all of which have been photographed and are on display on the collection's profile for those who wish to see more.
