A, Extremely Rare Elizabethan Tree of Life Needlework Panel,
English and dating from 16th century,
The hanging composed of needlework slips worked in coloured silks and stitched around a Tree of Life adorned with floral and fruiting foliate stems
The numerous slips include pears, pomegranates, irises, thistles, carnations, and strawberries, incorporating a leopard at the base of the tree, and various exotic birds amongst the stems, on a linen ground decorated with semé dots and stars
edged with twisted cord which forms hanging loop at the top
worked using long and short stitch, satin stitch, and french knots
Considering this textiles is approx 500 years it is in remarkably good condition
upper (12 cm) portion pieced from 3 fragments and backed to match
lightly faded and occasional loss of threadwork, some small holes in ground, mostly to edges,
Please study the many photographs as they do form a very important part of the description
The first I have ever found complete and totally original. Should really be in a museum
SIZE 178 x 30 cm (70 inches x 11.75 ins)
S5151
LAYAWAY AVAILABLE