The RSN’s Collection includes intricate hand embroidered works, as well as a range of non-embroidered costume and textiles, from the 7th to the 21st century. In 1875 the School’s Art Committee (Sir Frederic Leighton, Val Prinsep and G.F Bodley) suggested that old works of good design be collected and made available to inform the design work of the school. Nearly 150 years later the Collection has been added to by donations from all over the world and continues to provide inspiration for the Royal School of Needlework’s Studio and students. Access to the collection and archive is currently limited but the RSN Collection & Archive website has begun to make the treasures of the RSN accessible to a wider audience online. Click below to discover beautiful and varied textiles, from 7th century Coptic weaving to an RSN sampler made for Queen Elizabeth II’s Robe of Estate.