Rare and spectacular Louis XIV era point de Saint-Cyr (c.late 1600s) French wool and silk work embroidery, needlepoint and petit point and micro-petitpoint stitches in remarkably fine condition. This 29" long and 27" high (bottom arched) panel would have been the seat of a large French chair. It survives almost no damage, holes, tears, losses and remains vibrant and magnificent for around 300 years now. Someone in France has accomplished any very small restorations necessary, and it's truly quite superb for its age. It has an added backing of vintage cotton cloth, which is edged for wall display by the thick silk moire trim. Wall hanging? It is not, in my opinion, one to make up as a pillow. Too old, too valuable and I think it would be best to be framed for display. I'm disbursing my own collections at this point. I'm not going to 'bump out a wall', buy another home to decorate, or give up all of the decor I currently am 'at home' in. Museum piece. Top of the line, very good condition for such an early one and I've never seen such tiny tiny stitches. One of my all-time favorite panels! Watch for others from my own "stash" listing as quickly as I can this week and in weeks ahead.
A magnificent c.1680-1730s French point de Saint Cyr tapestry - with a super-rare history: This super-fine petit point (even micro-point) embroidery on painted canvas is linked to Madam de Maintenon, later Marchioness of Maintenon, who asked (her secret husband) Louis XIV to put up money for a school to teach the 'noble' girls. The school was in Saint Cyr. This embroidery is from the Marchioness or her students. Incredible history and importance. This one with the rare imagination of a leopard. So charming!
I should give you one more tidbit of the story: "Following the disgrace of the Marquise de Montespan in a poisoning scandal and the death of Queen Maria Theresa of Austria, she married the king in secret in 1683. Madame de Maintenon held a great influence over Louis XIV, who visited her every day in her apartments overlooking the palace's royal courtyard."
Very good condition for age and type. Lots of photos show it well. Not for a pillow, but is a masterpiece to be framed and displayed, I think. A museum piece, dating from Louis XIV - last half of c.1600s - an incredible find in this large size and fine condition. It was originally an oversized settee backrest panel is 29" long, (25" wide at the top) and at arched center and 27" high. A rabbit, tree of fanciful fruits and the most splendid leopard in the panel. A museum piece! Lots of photos. There are a couple of very tiny holes. No tears. The wool and silk yards remain vibrantly colored and without insect damage. The canvas is not brittle, but is not, in my opinion, supple enough to make into a pillow. The backing fabric is just vintage. No odor, no dinginess. Remarkably fine - this! Will be shipped very carefully rolled in archival tissue in a mailer tube. We don't fold tapestry.
