2-727-954 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Embroidered Cover or Curtain, 17th-18th century. This exuberant pattern of spiraling roundels enlivens a ground of isolated vegetation, despite disintegrated dark brown-black silk thread outlines. Professional draftsmen would have drawn the pattern in ink on the reverse side of several loosely attached, plain linen cloths. They were separated for embroiderers to follow and then reassembled; frequently, the designs do not match perfectly at the seams.