This collection is a display of embroidery, assembled by enthusiasts for others to study and enjoy. The book offers a guide to the very best of the collection. Some 150 pieces are illustred, most in colour. There are exotic embroderies from around the world, including exquisite fragments from Chinese court costumes to stunning Turkish sashes, and there are a number of British pieces, both historical and contemporary. Each piece is described by an acknowledged expert, giving details of the stitch, the thread, the fabric and the design, as well as information on its owner and the social framework in which it was made.