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Prisoner-of-war art on show for Denmark Embroidery Group’s exhibition

Headshot of Kellie Balaam
Kellie BalaamAlbany Advertiser
Denmark embroider’s Louise Hoskins, Lyn Schupp, Linley Radlaj and Deborah Dickie.
Camera IconDenmark embroider’s Louise Hoskins, Lyn Schupp, Linley Radlaj and Deborah Dickie. Credit: Laurie Benson

Two embroidered pieces made in 1941 by an Italian prisoner-of-war in Sri Lanka will be a historical highlight for a local art group with the work set to be exhibited for the first time in years.

The Denmark Embroidery Group will host an exhibition later this month featuring a mix of historical and modern embroidery, including the pieces put together by Italian World War II POW Luiji Castrovilli.

Embroider Linley Radlaj owns the two 79-year-old artworks created by Mr Castrovilli.

She said the group was very proud to be showing them to the public for what she believed was the first time.

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“POWs were sent out to Australia and were allocated to farmers who were short of manpower and my dad had two of them including Luiji,” Ms Radlaj said.

“I remember the other man, I was only about three, I think they were going home after the war finished, I remember him throwing me in the air.

“Luiji kept one (piece) to give to my mother as a Christmas present back in the early 1940s, so that’s how she came about them.”

Denmark embroider Linley Radlaj.
Camera IconDenmark embroider Linley Radlaj. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser, Laurie Benson Albany Advertiser Picture: Laurie Benson

Mr Castrovilli worked in satin and chain stitch with thread taken from towels.

He used a man’s handkerchief and what appeared to be a flour bag to create a design of Mary and baby Jesus and another of the Sacred Heart of Christ.

Ms Radlaj said it felt special to have the items in her possession.

“When my mother died I got them as I was the only one interested in embroidery ... they’ve just been hidden away and as far as I know they’ve never been exhibited before,” she said.

There will also be a display of pieces created by the group’s local embroiders.

Organiser Deborah Dickie said the exhibition aimed to educate people about the artform.

“These days embroidery encompasses many different styles and that’s what we’re trying to show people that it’s not just cross-stitch or tapestry they might remember their grandmother doing,” she said.

Denmark Embroidery Group's Deborah Dickie.
Camera IconDenmark Embroidery Group's Deborah Dickie. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

The DEG started in 2008 and has about 20 active members.

The eldest member, Gwen Harrison, 96, will exhibit a duchess set, a cloth and two doilies for a dressing table, which she embroidered more than 80 years ago.

The DEG is affiliated with the Embroiders Guild of WA.

The group is looking for new members, especially younger people.

It meets from 10am-3pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Lions Lair in Denmark.

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