Early Silk and Metal Thread Embroidered Velvet Panel with Peacock and Flowers: C17th Italy or Spain
A 17th-century European embroidered velvet textile panel, likely of Italian or Spanish origin.
Very rare to find a complete panel - it would really benefit from being stretched and mounted, a service we offer at our textile conservation studio. Please ask us for details.
Featuring a stylized, regal peacock with an elaborate trailing tail, surrounded by dense, large-scale botanical elements including sunflowers and pomegranates, tulips, daffodils and birds.
The panel has a continuous running border composed of scrolling foliate acanthus leaves and circular floral medallions. Heavy couched metallic threads (gold and silver) and colored silk threads stitched onto a rich crimson silk velvet ground.
Textiles of this caliber and design from the 1600s were typically produced for ecclesiastical purposes (such as altar frontals) or as luxury wall hangings and table runners for high-status noble estates.
Measurements:
56cm x 95cm
Condition:
Some overall wear commensurate with age, one historic repair, some splits and losses to velvet and surface silk embroidery.