Designer alert: With quite literally crates and crates of fabulous antique 17th to 18th century tapestry fragments collected over decades with the intention of making them up into lush-fringed and down-filled decorator pillows, it comes time to accept that I'm never going to get those fabulous decorator pillows done and so we're beginning to offer our fragments to you, younger and more inclined to do the project for your own home decor, or to sell. As you know, such pillows vary in price - done well, thick and down-filled, trimmed in fine antique passementerie, trim, tassels, can bring prices ranging $2k to $5k. The wode dyes - blues and greens as in this one are eternally popular and elevate any decor. They are fragments of huge woven tapestries, salvages of ones mostly lost to the ravages of time, and saved as you see this one is. Not simple to determine if it came from the looms of Flemish or French weavers, Aubusson or Brussels, even early Gobelin - wool and silk yarns in combination - works of art!
This one is a c 17th century panel fragment in very good usable condition for age and type. It is a good working size: 15 1/2" x 11 1/2", well-preserved and without need for further restoration beyond closing an opening in the weave (simple needle and thread work) - ready to be flanked in your choice of rich fabric, silk velvet or even a quality muslin, backed in same and fringed. You might choose antique metallic thread trims or tassels, like those shown in our final grouped images, or any of a number of modern fringe trims to flatter the old tapestry within your own decor.
