An English needlework pelmet

First quarter of the 17th century

Worked in silk in cross stitch and long-armed cross stitch, with a lattice design of green twisted cords decorated with endless knots at the cross-points, and rosettes in blue, coral and red in the terracotta interstices, above a row of yellow ground banner cartouches decorated with flowering stems. Edged with short 17th century fringe of red silk and silver metal thread, and backed with red glazed woven wool. Elements of the design are reminiscent of several of the patterns illustrated in Thomas Trevelyon’s ‘Miscellany’, of 1608, and the manner of the design can also be compared to the flower and lattice on a cushion cover bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Irwin Untermyer (object number 1974.28.25).

40cm (15¾”) high and 207cm (81½”) wide.