Antique Early Figurative Filet Lace Curtain Mythological Beasts Birds Tree of Life Hand Embroidered: C18th Italy
An early antique linen filet lace panel featuring intricate, hand-knotted gridwork and iconic figural motifs.
Handmade filet or buratto lace (lacis), created by embroidering decorative patterns onto a pre-woven square mesh grid.
Embroidered with symmetrical Renaissance and Baroque style iconography, including peacocks flanking a central urn, rampant heraldic lions, stylized "Tree of Life" branches, ornate, fanciful animals, including what appear to be winged creatures, similar to motifs found in 16th to 18th-century Italian lace.
The upper section contains stylized birds (possibly peacocks or swans) perched amidst foliage, representing prosperity and eternal life, surrounded by intricate geometric borders and diamond fillings.
This type of lace was historically produced in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Historically utilized as luxury domestic textiles such as bedspreads, table covers, or church altar cloths.
Measurements:
251cm long x 142cm wide
Condition:In excellent overall condition. We have professionally and repeatedly soaked and washed this panel in our textile conservation studio which was an uneven pale brown when it arrived. Ot is now clean and is a pale creamy ecru in colour.