A 17th century Italian embroidered border

With a repeating design of cupids stepping from the rims of urns with bows and arrows poised and aimed towards dragons standing at the bases of flowering trees, in red silk drawnwork on a fine linen ground retaining its original short silk fringe. Comparable pieces may be found in the collections of several museums, among them accession number 41.186 in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and object number 79.1.56 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The majority of these panels would have formed part of the border of a linen cover, such as the V & A’s accession number CIRC.521-1912.

The textile 21.7cm (8½”) high and 64.5cm (25⅜”) wide, mounted on sized blue linen of similar date.

The gilt frame 41.4cm (16¼”) high and 83.5cm (32⅞”) wide.

Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 2.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 3.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 4.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 5.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 6.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 7.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 8.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 9.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 10.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 11.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 12.jpg
Embroidery 17th century Italian drawnwork 13.jpg