Petit Point Tapestry Prie-Dieu with Barley Twist Back

• Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
• Petit Point - Petit point embroidery is a type of needlework that is characterized by small, delicate stitches worked onto a fine canvas or mesh fabric. The stitches used in petit point embroidery are typically very small and precise, and are worked in diagonal rows to create a smooth, even surface.
  
  Petit point embroidery is often used to create intricate designs and patterns, such as floral motifs, landscapes, and portraits. The embroidery can be done in a variety of colours and can be quite detailed and realistic.
  
  The technique of petit point embroidery has been used for centuries in various forms of decorative art, including tapestries, cushions, and clothing. It was particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, where it was used to create elaborate wall hangings and furniture coverings.
  
  Petit point embroidery is still practiced by many artisans and is used to create a wide range of decorative items, including jewellery, handbags, and home decor. The technique requires patience and skill, as the small stitches can be time-consuming to work and require a steady hand.
• Barley Twist - The leg, and frequently other uprights such as columns, chair frames, spindles and stretchers, are turned in fairly wide and deep spirals, usually slightly rounded. Also known as the 'Jacobean twist' and common on the dark stained Jacobean Revival furniture of the 1930s and 40s.
  
  As a rule, the twists on opposite uprights should move in a contrary direction. Thus, if the spiral on a right side is clockwise, that on the left side should move in a counter-clockwise direction.
  
  This is also true of rope-twist or cable-twist turning, a nautical term that came into fashion after Nelson's victories over the French fleet. The essential difference is that with rope twists, the spirals are more finely turned on the lathe and placed closer together, than they are with barley-sugar turnings.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• chairs, singles / pairs / threes, style or period - Victorian, other styles 1,208
• prayer chair or desk - prie-dieu 38