English embroidery was already well-known before medieval times, but became internationally renowned during the thirteenth century. In the Vatican inventories and elsewhere, the term Opus Anglicanum (English work) was used to describe elaborately-embroidered vestments. These were made by professional embroiderers in England.
During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), English embroidery entered a second period of preeminence, this time with embroidery for secular and household use. Embroidery for wealthy customers continued to be done by professionals. Blackwork embroidery was popular in Elizabethan times, but is rarely preserved, as the iron dyes used for black corroded the cloth.
