Gold Silver-Lined Tubes - Norman Hartnell Archive
Gold Silver-Lined Tubes - Norman Hartnell Archive
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Vintage gold silver-lined glass tubes from the archive of Mollie Welch, tambour embroiderer in Norman Hartnell’s workroom.
Super tiny, very fine short-cut tubes in a bright, warm gold: the silver lining inside each one makes them sparkle in every light, ideal for delicate couture detail.
Please note the condition: these hanks have been well used. Some threads are loose, broken or tangled, and a few tubes may have come off the string. The beads themselves are in good order, and the price reflects the condition. Ideal for anyone happy to rethread or work straight from a bead tray.
Three hanks available, each sold whole: 92g, 80g and 65g.
About the Archive
This exquisite collection of mid-20th century dressmakers’ beads and sequins originates from the archive of Mollie (Marjorie Constance) Welch, an accomplished embroiderer who worked for Sir Norman Hartnell from 1937 onwards.
Mollie began her career at the prestigious Hartnell couture house on Bruton Street, London, where she contributed to royal and aristocratic gowns embellished with intricate beadwork and embroidery. Her early diary entries mention work on the Queen’s Coronation gowns, including the iconic feather bodice created for Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) in 1937, and she later assisted with the Coronation ensembles of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
After retiring in 1970, Mollie cherished her collection of materials — sequins, beads, and embroidery samples — intending to open her own atelier to teach tambour embroidery. Although fashions changed and her plans never came to fruition, these beautiful embellishments have remained safely preserved for decades.
The set offered here comes directly from the Mollie Welch archive, a tangible link to one of Britain’s most celebrated couture houses and the golden age of royal embroidery under Norman Hartnell.