Bag

Jessie Dora Gossop (née Meech, 1880-1970) embroidered this green silk drawstring purse with velvet 'petals' in the Art Nouveau style in about 1906. She was educated at Highbury High School, and then spent three years at Camden School of Art in Tufnell Park.

In 1902, Jessie married the commercial artist Robert Percy Glossop (1876-1992). She continued to practise embroidery, undertaking freelance work for The Royal School of Art Needlework in Exhibition Road and embroidering altar cloths.

In the 19th century mass-production methods and synthetic dyes changed the appearance of textiles. Their uniformity and harsh colours inspired a return to traditional hand-made methods of producing and decorating textiles, led initially by William Morris.

Embroidery enjoyed a renaissance. In the early 20th century, many artist-designers, practitioners and retailers involved with the craft movement, like Jessie Gossop, had links with London's art colleges.