Tambour (known in French as Lunéville) is a way of attaching beads or sequins onto material using a tambour hook. This can offer beautiful embellishments in a variety of ways e.g. applying beads to the edging of altar cloths, chalice veils, mantillas, as well as other church furnishings. I have also seen beads applied on the back of a priests’ chasuble and other vestments.

This design was created by Caroline Homfray, a tutor at the RSN.

The home of this type of embroidery is Ecole Lesage in Paris (also a subsidiary of Chanel and haute couture embroidery).