A Millennium of Textiles: Digging into the RSN Collection with RSN Curator Isabella Rosner 1st March 2025

Join Dr Isabella Rosner, Curator of the Royal School of Needlework for this special talk that explores the history of the Royal School of Needlework’s collection.

In this talk, Dr Isabella Rosner will survey the history of the RSN’s collection and explore several key pieces in it, using them to illustrate how much information can be gleaned from analysing an embroidery’s physical qualities and social context. 

Isabella will take you on a rousing tour of objects from 7th-century Coptic weaving to 21st-century Chinese silk painting, focusing on several items made by girls as part of their needlework education.
The RSN has been the international centre of excellence for the Art of Hand Embroidery since 1872. Based at the magnificent Hampton Court Palace, south-west London, it offers a thriving education programme for everyone from beginner to degree level and teaches onsite and online across the globe.

The RSN collection includes intricate hand embroidered works, as well as a range of non-embroidered costume and textiles spanning more than 10 centuries. Its renowned Embroidery Studio creates stunning bespoke embroidery for fashion, art and royalty, as well as expertly restoring and conserving valuable and historical embroidered pieces.

Every ticket sold supports the work of The Dovecot Foundation to advance visual art, craft and design in all its forms.

Please note that tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and may not be exchanged.

If you are unable to attend an event please contact Dovecot on 0131 550 3660 or info@dovecotstudios.com to inform the Front of House Team.