A length of ciselé velvet

Genoa, circa 1680-1710.

The cut and uncut pile with a design of peacocks and vases of flowers supported by scrolling leaves issuing flowering stems, in red, green, yellow and apricot on an ivory coloured satin ground.

Velvets such as this were termed jardinière, or giardino, for the floral designs and the variety of colours. The four colours present here would have necessitated four supplementary warp threads in addition to that used to create the satin ground, these being passed over rods to make a looped pile. Some of these loops were subsequently cut to create the two heights of pile known as ciselé. Velvets of this type were much in demand for the upholstery of furniture. One example is in the collection of the V & A (accession number: 340A-1891)

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118804/furnishing-fabric-unknown/

With damages. Conserved and laid on a cotton support, the missing section filled with silk.

Mounted on a stretcher 106.5cm (42”) high and 53.4cm (21”) wide.