Beautiful Regency Floral Silkwork Picture

THE STORY - When I held this picture in my hands I found myself marvelling at the exquisite beauty of the embroidery and the wonderful tones chosen for the silks. The image portrays flowers and fauna falling from a basket which is tied at the top with a ribbon. I have to say I particularly loved the detail and shading of the acanthus style leaves and the little blue flowers falling to the ground. The embroidery is on a beautiful gold background which looks to me like silk. This type of embroidery was very popular at the beginning of the nineteenth century often as a way for a girl to improve her sewing skills, sometimes using patterns. And I have to say I think the embroidery very fine, although I confess to being no expert. The picture is framed in what looks like its original gilt wooden frame with a Verre églomisé mount which for me compliments perfectly the golden colours of the embroidery. Although I completely love this wonderful picture I have to say I did not love photographing it, and feel it is only in the final photograph that you see the true colours as in my other photos for some reason the colour on side in particular shows a lot lighter than it actually is.

AGE - Circa 1810

CONDITION - The colours of the embroidery have faded over the passing years, but there is a real softness to them. The silk background is no longer taught and flat and has creases in it, some more server than others. On the side of the picture with the falling yellow flowers there are some tiny little holes at the bottom of the picture. The frame is in good condition, there is a slight 'milkiness' to the Verre églomisé mount and there are come chips to the gilt of the frame the largest on the top right corner. There is also some beading missing on the bottom left hand corner of the inner rim. At some point in its life a new backing has been put on and I would recommend testing the string for strength before hanging.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Framed - Height 11&1/4" / 28.5cm, Width 10&1/2" / 27cm, Depth 1&1/4" / 3.5cm. Image Size - Height - 6" / 15cm, Width 6" / 15cm

I imagine how proud, whoever produced this embroidery must of been when it was finally finished and how they must of enjoyed seeing it displayed so wonderfully in the Verre églomisé Frame. And although for me the colours although now faded and subtle with the passing of the years are still beautiful I do wonder how luscious they must have originally looked. There is one thing I do not need to wonder about and that is I could never produce an item of such beauty!