Wool is the natural fibre obtained from the fleece of sheep, and in a broader sense from goats, camels and other animals, which is spun into yarn and used for weaving, knitting, felting and embroidery. It is warm, resilient, takes dye well and has been one of the most important textile fibres in Europe for centuries.
The wool trade was central to the English economy in the medieval period, and the wealth it generated paid for many of the great churches of East Anglia, the Cotswolds and Lincolnshire. Wool was used for clothing, blankets, tapestries, carpets, upholstery and wall hangings, and worsted, a smooth yarn made from long-staple wool, was valued for hard-wearing furnishing fabrics. Antique woollen textiles include crewel work, Berlin wool work, samplers, needlework pictures, hand-knotted carpets and tapestries, and woollen moreen and damask used for curtains and bed hangings. Wool is vulnerable to moth and carpet beetle, so condition is a key concern for collectors, and old textiles should be inspected regularly and stored clean. Faded natural dyes often have a soft beauty prized by decorators, while vivid early chemical dyes can help to date Victorian work.
