Under the title of Oriental Embroidery is classed all the various kinds of embroidery produced in the East, and which are described under their own headings. The Embroideries that are the most famous are Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Persian, Bulgarian, and Turkish.
Oriental embroideries are all celebrated for the amount of labor bestowed on their execution, the costliness of the materials used about them, and the vigor and boldness of conception and coloring displayed in their design. The East has always been looked upon s the cradle of fine needlework, and the Phrygians and Babylonians as the founders of the art; and for many centuries, during which nothing of any importance in embroidery was produced in Europe, Africa and Asia continued to manufacture most beautiful articles.
Since the introduction in the East of the bright hued dyes of Europe, and the greater demand for the work, that which has been produced has not displayed either the same good taste or minuteness of execution that distinguishes the needlework of former days.
