What is fretwork?

Barbara Lee Long

unread,

Oct 20, 2004, 12:55:14 PM10/20/04

to

A friend of mine asked me what fretwork was and all I knew is it was a
type of woodworking. But she was asking in relationship to
needlecraft. Does anyone know what it is? TIA

Charlene Charette

unread,

Oct 21, 2004, 1:18:29 AM10/21/04

to

Type into Google "define:fretwork" and you get the following. Guess I
never realized that fretwork is fretwork because it's created with a
fret saw. Duh. :-)

--Charlene

Definitions of Fretwork on the Web:

Open or pierced wood carving with an oriental influence, used as a
decorative element in Chippendale and Chippendale-style furnishings.
www.qualityfurnituremarket.com/glossary.html

Ornamental carving or fancywork
www.burtoncabinets.com/designing/glossary.html

ornamental carving, often interlaced or pierced in appearance
www.furnitureguide.com/glossary.asp

Ornamental carving or fancywork.
www.prestigekitchens.com/glossary.htm

Ornamental shapes cut by the thin-bladed fret saw
www.town.truro.ns.ca/tthac/contentpages/glossary.htm

The Whitworth cabinetry Collection features a decorative fretwork
pattern machined through the solid stock to create an English country
design theme.
www.durasupreme.com/basics/glossary.html

Decorative patterns or elements created by cutting or piercing
through a piece of wood.
www.art-conservation.org/GLOSS_furn_dec.htm

Wooden boards which have been saw cut in intricate repeating
patterns to resemble lace work and used to elaborate the edges of
verandahs and bargeboards.
homeandgarden.nzoom.com/cda/printable/1,1856,144216,00.html

An ornamental band with a geometric pattern.
www.historicnorfolk.org/glossary.html

Thin wood, cut with a very fine saw, called a fret saw, to form
patterns.
www.itl.com.au/cd/glossary.htm

> The interlaced decorative design that is either perforated or
carved in low relief on a solid background. Most fretwork patterns are
geometric in design. The term is also used to indicate the tracery on
glazed windows and doors.
www.christies.co.uk/departments/glossary.asp

framework consisting of an ornamental design made of strips of wood
or metal
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

--
A happy childhood, I've always believed, is the worst possible
preparation for life. -- Kinky Friedman

--

email perronnelle at earthlink . net

Charlene Charette

unread,

Oct 21, 2004, 1:20:04 AM10/21/04

to

Barbara Lee Long wrote:

Forgot to add that a "fret" is also a heraldic charge:
http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/UC.HTM

--Charlene

Barbara Lee Long

unread,

Oct 21, 2004, 4:35:57 PM10/21/04

to

Thanks,, Charlene, but there is a kind of needlework called fretwork.
That's what I was talking about. It has something to do with Celtic
work, but I haven't found out any more.

dhducati

unread,

Oct 22, 2004, 1:39:24 PM10/22/04

to

http://www.aeriebooks.com/needlework.htm

--
And remember October is ...

Lupus Awareness Month
National Apple Jack Month
Fantasy Month

"Barbara Lee Long" <n...@real.address> wrote in message
news:6v5dn0tvqhr1c5cpo...@4ax.com...

Dianne Lewandowski

unread,

Oct 22, 2004, 2:44:29 PM10/22/04

to

I was looking up some terminology in Pamela Clabburn's encyclopedia and
found the following:

fretts: Ornamental and interlaced designs in decorative art, which were
used in needlework, especially in the 16th century. They are described
in the glossary to the Hardwick Hall inventories as strap work patterns,
often cut out and applied to a second material, "long quition of golde
and silver fretted with greene velvet"

Strap work: Style of ornament in vogue in the 15th and 16th centuries
consisting of interlacing bands. It was used in woodwork . . .
plasterwork, metalwork, as well as embroidery and can often be seen in
the patterning on costume of both men and women in the 16th century
portraits. It was carried out by the sewing down of braids or by
stitches and possibly jewels outlining the strap shapes.

I hope the above sheds some light for you.
Dianne

Felice Friese

unread,

Oct 22, 2004, 3:21:16 PM10/22/04

to

"Dianne Lewandowski" <dia...@heritageshoppe.com> wrote in message
news:2tt37dF...@uni-berlin.de...

Amazing! Dianne, I would love to get loose in your library. You never fail
to come up with exactly what we're looking for. Thanks once again.

Felice

Dianne Lewandowski

unread,

Oct 22, 2004, 4:34:21 PM10/22/04

to

I consider Pamela Clabburns dictionary and the Batsford Encyclopedia to
be such a wealth of information. I wasn't actually looking up fretwork,
but a few other terms and ran across it by accident.

I think the Celtic knotted designs in needlework of any kind are
probably today's answer, as pointed out on the needlearts.org page. But
braid, couching, gold and silver knotted work would certainly fit the
bill. :-)

Your welcome, Felice. It was as much interest to me as anyone else.
Always fun to learn something new about needlework. I wish we could see
a modern interpretation.

Dianne

Jeanine3

unread,

Oct 23, 2004, 2:49:59 AM10/23/04

to

Don't know if anyone's seen this:
http://www.blackworkarchives.com/bw_sesns.html
scroll down to "Summer a fret of thistles" and read the definition below
the graphic...
HTH,
Jeanine in Canada

Jenn Liace

unread,

Oct 23, 2004, 10:16:31 AM10/23/04

to

On Sat, 23 Oct 2004 06:49:59 GMT, Jeanine3 <jea...@netscape.net>
wrote:

>Don't know if anyone's seen this:
>http://www.blackworkarchives.com/bw_sesns.html
>scroll down to "Summer a fret of thistles" and read the definition below
>the graphic...
>HTH,
>Jeanine in Canada

Thank you, Jeanine! Now I start to understand!

Jenn L.
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace

Current projects:
Poinsettia (Amaryllis Artworks)
Nordic Needle Rose (Silver Lining)

UFO's:
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

Barbara Lee Long

unread,

Oct 25, 2004, 6:15:03 PM10/25/04

to

Thanks! I will print that out and give it to my friend. :-)