In from France, this is a pair (we have 2 pairs - this is #4) of approximately 15" square pillows made up of salvaged c.1600s verdure or French tapestry, each with fabulous wode dyed coarse wool yarns, and heavy silk moire fabric backs. The contrasting silk backs and rope passementerie trim sets the pillow pair off nicely. I have to qualify these as "shabby chic", really. Someone made them in France ages ago, and I'm guessing the fill is either cotton or perhaps wool - fairly firmly stuffed. As you can see, they're beautiful and very 'restoration-worked' on the old tapestry, creating a panel which must have taken many hours of handiwork sewing to do. I love the old tapestry, and love that someone saved these in this manner. Photos, greatly enlarged of each pillow on its own, show the oversewn work. My guess is they were made well before 1940.
Good to very good for age and type, as noted, the tapestry panels are restoration working with woven French or Flemish verdure that dates to 1600s, so not going to be pristine or perfect, but have that elegant Old World glamour to them. Heavy silk moire fabric backings and passementerie trim with loops at corners are also old, show some age and a little fading. If I were thinking to keep these, I'd unpick one end, insert a down-fill pillow form, and then sew them right back up, but I like my pillows down-filled and squishier. Paris Apartment look and feel. We've got them stored in archival bags awaiting their next home. This is set or pair #4 and another matching set (shown in final photo) are being sold separately.
