American Beauty

American Arts and Crafts, 1915, Embroidered panel, reminiscent of Gustav Stickley designs, hand embroidered with all silk threads in rich tones of gold displaying diamond shapes on stems with a Tudor Rose in various shades of pink. The cushion is finished with vintage French trim with multiple shades of pink accented with a gold chevron pattern. A contemporary azalea horsehair complements the left and right sides of  the cushion. 19th century Piña cloth in vibrant pink finishes the sides and back.

Design 97
14”w x 12”h, Box style

Cubist Abstract

Deco Lady Cushions

A 1920s French beaded, embroidered and tulle panel from a lady’s dress. An unusual design depicting sea plants in rounded shapes embroidered in colorful shades of purple, cherry, green, blue and light caramel and finished with white and black beading surrounded by stems of sea grass in black silk tulle and black beading. The outside borders of the cushion are done in woven horsehair in bright fuchsia. Vintage silver metal braiding borders the left and right side of the panel. The outside portions of the cushion are made up of fuchsia horsehair.

Design 88
20”w x 15 ½” h

Military Bullion

An English 19^th century embroidered military collar band made up of acorns, tudor style roses in silver metallic bullion with apple green silk thread mounted on vintage silver fishnet metal mesh with a bright green felt underlay and  finished with a horizontal strip of vintage silver metal braiding mounted over bright green felt.

Design 49
17”w x 12” h

Chinese Badge

Antique Chinese embroidered rank badge. Worn on the front and back of overcoats during the Ch’ing Dynasty. A very unusual design with a black open weave canvas background in Florentine stitch in bright polychrome silks and couched with numerous metallic cooper cloud scrolls. Motifs of waves and rocks in silver, cooper and blue threads form the lower portion of the embroidery. Multiple shades of blue, fuchsia, yellow, green and white are used to highlight a variety of different symbols on the upper portion of the embroidery. A border design is made of embroidered vine and floral motifs. The embroidery is mounted on vintage pale green sheer metallic fabric with a tiny silver metallic braided trim surrounding the embroidery.

Design 69
16 ½” w x 15” h

Turkish Plumes

An 18^th century Turkish Ottoman embroidered towel with an 18^th century Persian silk. The embroidered linen gauze on the Turkish towel is worked in a bold design of abstract floral sprig motifs in vivid shades of coral, pink, blue and black silk thread and lustrous metallic gold-wrapping threads. The bottom portion of the cushion is done in a Persian metallic gold and blue brocaded silk panel with a striking diamond lattice pattern  enclosing stylized buds. A strip of vintage flat yellow metallic trim is mounted horizontally to separate the two textiles.

Design 75
18”w x 10”h

Italian Stripes

An Italian 18^th century striped wool, once a part of a chasuble, highlights both the front and back center of this pillow. The dazzling colors of the stripes consist of crimson, green, indigo, gold and white bands enhanced with subtle ombre gradations. The front outside panels are made up of contemporary fuchsia horsehair flanked by vertical strips of brown metallic banding. The back of the cushion consists of a second panel of the Italian stripe centered and bordered with 18th century blue silk bourrette.

Design 85
17”w x 14”h

River Scene with Red Cloth of Gold

A striking combination of antique silks, at center front , a sleeve band of 19^th century Chinese embroidered silk is placed centered over a shimmering red panel of 18^th or 19^th century Russian silk. Woven with thin strips of gold metal, this type of fabric is commonly called “cloth of gold”. The Chinese embroidery is worked in a polychrome silk floss in vibrant shades of blue, magenta, coral, celadon with metallic gold threads against an ivory satin ground depicting figures in traditional dress  in  riverside settings with lush vegetation and lotus flowers.

Design 31
15”w x 12”h

Indian Animal Kingdom

An Indian sheer silk panel early 20^th century brocaded with small parrot, peacock, stag and elephant motifs in shades of grass green, copper, peach and royal blue; the opaque silver decorative border is similarly figured with larger elephants and parrots. Twenty Antique knotted  metallic silver buttons from a nineteenth century child’s Ottoman vest trims the panel with a single antique Turkish tassel with deep Saffron threads. The bottom portion of the cushion is done in contemporary gold chartreuse double silk satin.

Design 73
21” w x 15 ¼” h

Ochre Satin Panels

Late 18^th century embroidered ochre silk satin panels, once part of a man’s formal waistcoat. Worked primarily in shaded satin stitch, with pale blue, pink, yellow and white floral and foliate sprays with tulle insets over-embroidered in places lending additional texture to the needlework. A delicate vintage gold cord and silk buttons highlight the embroidered panels. A foundation of contemporary ochre silk taffeta supports the applied embroideries.

Design 46
12 ¾” w x 12 ¾”h

Metallic Boxes

Russian Cloth of Gold

Contemporary indigo blue woven horsehair fabric with a central, applied panel of 18^th or 19^th century Russian silk. Woven with thin strips of gold metal, this type of fabric is commonly called “cloth of gold”, this particular panel was pressed to create a distinctive moiré finish.  The panel is trimmed with  vintage coral twisted silk cording, and each corner is accented with Japanese hand-painted porcelain buttons, each with a unique face depicting Noh theater masks.

Design 52
22”w x 15”h

French Cuffs

Dramatic antique embroidered appliqués, probably French in origin and dated to the late 18^th century, were once a part of a man’s formal coat.  Worked primarily in shaded satin stitch on a dark mahogany wool foundation, the pale blue, pink, yellow, green and white floral and foliate sprays are rendered in a naturalistic style; French knot accents add delicate textural details. Vintage silver metallic scallop trim finishes the cushion’s edges.

Design 44
15”h x 8”w

French Bouquets with Persian Brocade

18^th century French silk embroidery, possibly from the skirts or petticoat of a woman’s gown. The two coordinating panels of pale café-au-lait silk are decorated with floral bouquets in soft pastel shades offset with deep indigo blue accents. At the center of the cushion is an 18^th century  Persian metallic gold and blue brocaded silk panel with a striking diamond lattice pattern enclosing stylized floral buds. Antique metallic gold woven tape, once trimming for a liturgical garment, border the Persian silk and finishes the ends.

Design 68
18”w x 9 ½”h

Forbidden Stitch

Two antique 19^th century Chinese embroideries combined.  The narrow panel on the lower portion is a sleeve band intricately embroidered primarily in the technique of Forbidden Stitch or Peking Knots showing elaborate details of flowering trees and pagodas with polychrome silk threads and metallic stitching throughout.  The wider panel is a pale bronze silk damask woven with cloud scroll motifs and embroidered with a dragon and metallic ogees linked with stylized flowers.  Vintage metallic gold cord finishes the outside edges of the cushion.

Design 74
16” w x 12” h
box style

Ladies at Leisure

A colorful pair of 19^th century Chinese sleeve bands from a ladies robe in polychrome silk floss showing female figures on a river scene with images of pagodas, bridges and scenic landscapes. The bands are mounted on contemporary sable grey and pale yellow double silk satin and bordered with two vintage metallic trims in pale green and silver

Design 82
16 ¾” w x 15 ¾” h

Cranes Flying High

A grouping of  19^th century silk oriental embroidered appliques. A floral bouquet of white peonies with delicate curved foliage over a cluster of multi-colored wave motifs highlight the center of the cushion with  two embroidered flying cranes above. The appliques are mounted on vintage creamy white sheer metallic silk and framed with two vertical bands of vintage silver metallic flat trim.  The outside borders  of the cushion are finished in 19^th century pale cerulean blue pina cloth.

Design 90
19 ½” h x 15 ½” w

Trees and Urns

A 19^th century Turkish Ottoman embroidered panel from a ceremonial towel in traditional reverse stitch with  metallic silver,  red, green, grey and cream threads showing tall trees and elaborate urns filled with floral rosettes intertwined with stylized flowers  over a border of foliage vines in a  zigzag pattern.  The embroidery is bordered with a horizontal band of vintage scroll patterned iridescent cream horsehair  trim over a double layer of vintage charcoal metallic moire silk ribbon and edged in contemporary silver metallic cord.

Design 100
18” w x 10”h

Magenta Garden

A 19^th or early 20^th century Chinese export embroidered silk panel with polychrome silk threads showing a variety of different flowers and foliage in multiple shades of silver, cream, green, yellow, coral and purple with a magenta background. The panel is framed on each side with two wide bands of silver metallic thread trim and the outside borders done in a contemporary teal green double silk satin.

Design 83
neckroll
20 ¼” w x 6” d

Turkish Flora

A panel of 19^th century Turkish Ottoman embroidered linen trimmed with vintage pale gold metallic ribbon and applied to vintage sea foam sheer green metallic silk.  The embroidery is done in a floral rosette and sprig pattern worked in soft shades of aquamarine, shell, pink and green silk in a traditional reversible stitch.  A vintage gold cord finishes the outer edges of the cushion.

Design 72
16”h x 14”w