It's amazing the number of these antique needlework panels we have, all bought through the decades with intention of making them up into lush down-filled and fringed decorator throw pillows - sofa pillows. I think by now I'm quite sure I'm not going to ever do the sewing, and so we'll be listing many of these in months to come. You may wish to frame them, or to be a bit handy and make up your own elegant pillows. This one is one of my favorites in needlepoint.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. This panel would do fine as a pillow top. Clean and supple, no holes and sturdy enough for such a project. Worked in silk and wool on a linen canvas, you can see it includes mythical beasts in petit point - tiny stitches, and surrounds them in a larger stitched grospoint, needlepoint. All the colorful French outer panel - a fabulous palette as only the French seemed to gather. This one seems not to have been put to use. You can see from the views of the backside, there is little or no fading to the old yarns. C. 1840-70, it was likely a sampler of a young girl, kept. Young needlepoint embroiderers often end with a slightly askew panel, not quite rectangular, from pulling the stitches a little too tight. You see a little of that in this one, though they do make up beautifully. Full measurements are noted on the photos.
