Skirt border, linen and cotton embroidered with silk & thread, Crete, 1600s

Embroiderers used designs drawn from the rich mythology of Ancient Crete and the Minoan, Byzantine, and Italian cultures that have all influenced the history of the island. Typically they feature complex floral designs, mermaids, double-headed eagles, winged snakes, and other animals and birds. I chose this piece of embroidery as my inspiration for the splash back tiles, a magnificent scene of people, animals & plants in harmony.