The embroidery is made up of five joined panels, one is very narrow, well worked in many coloured wools on a heavy cream linen ground. Only the centre two panels are worked. There is pattern tracery on the reverse of the outer two panels and a few lines are visible on the front of the inner two panels. In my opinion this work passes as finished as the majority of the needlework is done.
Very beautiful accomplished neeedlework using many different kinds of stitches, excellent shading all in many harmonising colours. The design has a charming naive quality. In the foreground is a seated figure of a man playing a lute, a stag & rabbits, all surrounded by strawberries, seedpods and flora. A large tree of life above showing a myriad of exotic flowers and leaves. This would look equally good as a wallhanging or bedcover, I imagine this was meant to cover a double bed. A couple of seam seperations, a few faint storage stains and a few nips on the wool otherwise this great period piece is in excellent usable condition.
Please click on pictures to enlarge, feel free to email abfabs1@btinternet.com if you would like more pictures. Measures ; 67.4" whole wide, 35" wide two emb.central panels, 81" long.
POSTING ; UK via special delivery, Overseas 'signed for' including full insurance.