Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Carpets
Explore the history of the world through its fascinating carpets with historian Dorothy Armstrong at Dovecot Studios on Saturday 7th June!
About Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Carpets
| 7th June 2025 | |
| 11am - 12pm | |
|
Dovecot Studios Ltd 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1LT |
|
| £12 | |
| Visit the event website here | |
| Follow Dovecotstudios on Twitter | |
| Facebook information can be found here | |
| Follow dovecotstudios on Instagram | |
From a 5th-century BCE tomb to the 20th-century collection of oil magnate J Paul Getty, antique carpets are some of the most prized textiles in the history of art. Armstrong illuminates the skill and beauty of a selection of these woven artworks, their symbolism and allure, while highlighting the differences between the powerful people who owned them and the lives of their makers.
Dr Dorothy Armstrong is a historian of material culture, currently based at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. She specialises in the carpets of Asia and the roles they play in their places of production, consumption, and display. Her career includes research at the Royal College of Art, Victoria & Albert Museum and the universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and London SOAS. Her current book is Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Twelve Carpets (Weidenfeld and Nicholson)
This talk celebrates the display of two new Dovecot artworks at V&A Dundee – The Garden Carpet and The Whitburgh Garden Carpet – created for the exhibition Garden Futures: Designing with Nature (from 17 May 2025).
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Dovecot Studios Ltd
The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives
Discover this groundbreaking exhibition in partnership with the Fleming Collection, which for the first time showcases the Scottish Colourists in the context of their European contemporaries.
READ MORE
Japanese Sashiko Rice Bag Workshop
Create your own mini-ricebag, traditionally used to hold temple offerings of rice and other goods, at Dovecot Studio on 29th March!
READ MORE
Japanese Boro Stitching Workshop
Join us at Dovecot Studios on 5th April for a slow stitching workshop inspired by the Japanese Boro tradition of repeatedly mending fabrics!
READ MORE
Paper Flower Making: Icelandic Poppies
Come along to Dovecot Studios on 5th April and learn how to make beautiful Icelandic paper Poppies!
READ MORE
Tapestry Weaving Experience Day
This tapestry weaving experience day at Dovecot Studios is a rare chance to learn the art of tapestry weaving at the UK’s longest running tapestry studio.
READ MORE
A Century of Scottish Colourists with Alice Strang
Join Alice Strang, Curator of the National Galleries of Scotland’s Scottish Colourist series of exhibitions, for this talk on 22nd April.
READ MORE
The Scottish Colourists inspired painting workshop
In this two day workshop at Dovecot in April, celebrate the work of Peploe and Cadell and delve deep into their world of colour!
READ MORE
Intermediate Embellishment Embroidery: Beading Techniques
Join Chloe Patience for this intermediate workshop focusing on beading techniques at Dovecot Studios on 26th April.
READ MORE
Introduction to Sashiko Stitching Workshop
Sashiko Stitching is a simple form of stitching with very satisfying results. Join Sue Crawley of Sunshine Designs Dollar at Dovecot Studios for this workshop.
READ MORE
Paint and Pigment Workshop
Working with artist Natalie Taylor, who exhibited her soil based paintings in 2022 at RBGE in the Living Soil exhibition, the workshop explores how to make paint from scratch from collected soils!
READ MORE
Intermediate Embroidery: Stump Work
Learn three-dimensional stitches using thread and wire with designer and embroidery specialist, Chloe Patience at Dovecot Studios on 17th May.
READ MORE
Paper Flower Making@ Sunflowers
Join Dovecot Studios on Saturday 24th May for a morning crafting paper sunflowers from Italian crepe paper with paper florist, Jen O’Flaherty!
READ MORE
Doug Cocker: Threads
Doug Cocker, one of Scotland’s leading sculptors, unveils a dynamic new body of work at Dovecot Studios in collaboration with The Scottish Gallery.
READ MORE
Rug Tufting Experience Day
Aimed at beginners, this intimate workshop at Dovecot Studios is an introduction to the art of electric gun tufting.
READ MORE
Flower and Still Life Watercolour Workshop
Join artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb on 31st May at Dovecot Studios as she takes you through the process of creating a small scale, still life watercolour!
READ MORE
Scottish Colour Floristry
Join Florist Lottie Longman to discover how colour and the landscape of East Lothian inform her work.
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Guided Looking: An Artwork Audio Described
Join Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
READ MORE
Costume Society Scotland Events
Come along to the Costume Society Scotland's season of varied talks on fashion, costume, textiles, accessories and related subjects between between October and April at Augustine United Church!
READ MORE
Palace Page Turners
Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!
READ MORE
Skip the Small Talk at Moonwake Beer Co.
Bring your friends (or come by yourself) and spend your Sunday night at an event where you know everyone else is there for the same reason.
READ MORE
Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
READ MORE
Information Lecture: Help and Healing on the Spiritual Path through the teaching of Bruno Groening
A lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
READ MORE
Drinkmonger Demystified: A Introductory Guide to Wine with Andrew Wilson
Whether you’re a complete beginner, an enthusiastic amateur, or fancy yourself an aficionado, join Drinkmonger's buyer Andrew Wilson for a from-the-ground-up crash course in wine on 26th March!
READ MORE
Conference-Concert on Erik Satie
Musicologist and award-winning Pianist Emilie Capulet will give a conference on Erik Satie, followed by a live mini-concert at the Institut français d'Ecosse on 26th March!
READ MORE
Scot-Secure Summit 2025
Scotland's 11th Annual Cyber Security for Business Summit with live keynotes, workshops and exhibition comes to the EICC on 27th March.
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links