Cleveland Museum of Art

Floral Panel, Probably from a Curtain

Date

early 1600s

Medium

Silk, linen; plain weave, embroidery: couch and stem stitches

Culture

England, James I Period, early 17th century

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Natural forms and brilliant colors of silk thread radiate in this embroidery. The refined floral sprays are offset in successive rows and repeated every sixth row. Flies, moths, and other insects are scattered among them, and a seated squirrel eats a hazelnut. The profusion of flowers and plants, such as thistles, hazelnuts, and foxgloves, were probably copied from pattern books that were increasingly available to embroiderers. Only a master embroiderer could have created such splendor evidenced here.

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