I made these 2. Well, I didn't do the needlework which comprises the pillow tops, but I did buy those in France ages ago and the antique velvet to which they're sewn, trimmed in French passementerie braid, and made them up as pillows. The backings match my window seat in our home, and These have decorated that mostly unused feature of my big room for 2 decades. I bought the most lush passementerie available back then. I know it was $110 a yard, made in France. Gorgeous stuff, and drapes beautifully, accenting and elevating the large pair. They're slightly different, 23-24" tall and 19.5 - 20" wide, vertical orientation. The needlework is very special - mid 1700s type of petit point specifically created by French King Louis's MIstress for her school for girls, and known still as Point de Saint-Cyr, carrying the name of the finishing school for girls of nobility. The wool and silk yarns are in a beautiful palette, and someone before me worked those supplemented with early 19th century coarser French needlepoint, visible mostly at base of the panel with woman. You see charming mythical animals, beautiful old dyes - the Point de Saint-Cyr is a personal favorite of mine and I do not know why I'm selling this pair - I think it will prompt me to make up more, which I really do need to do. My collections of antique 16th to 19th century tapestry and fragments of same really should become lush fabulous decorator pillows. These have clean down-filled pillows as fill. Yes, they'll crease up top for display, but I love this pair flat so you get the full effect of the ancient needlework. They're huge, puffy, soft and elegant for display. Full measurements noted on photos
Very good to excellent condition with age and type considered. The very oldest needlework fronts are both completely backed by the antique velvet which you see just at the corners - that is to strengthen them and support the old needlework. These are better for visuals than for lounging, though - they're very very old and the stitching is fine - tiny petit point and slightly larger stitches, but you can compare with normal size needlepoint where the panels are joined - superb fine work. There is no way to know if these were worked by Louis V's mistress, but certainly at least under her tutelage by girls at her finishing school. Mid-1700s - they blend well with woven tapestry dating same - the dyes are much the same. Of course, no odors. I've shown detail of a couple or more fragile spots on the needlework for your inspection. Someone very handy could do a little restoration, I suppose. I know I'm going to regret selling these, aren't I.
