Lot 1377 , A large pair and one smaller panel of late 18th century Italian silk floss hand embroidered panels, possibly from Florence or Venice, both known for floss embroidery. Thought to be originally sacristy hangings. Elaborate

A large pair and one smaller panel of late 18th century Italian silk floss hand embroidered panels, possibly from Florence or Venice, both known for floss embroidery. Thought to be originally sacristy hangings. Elaborately embroidered in polychrome silk floss threads into flower heads, grapes and intricate scrolling foliage. These types of hangings often adorned sacristies, monasteries, palaces and grand houses, for nobility and the church. Embroidered on narrow hand loom linen panels (the longer panels being two lengths sewn together), then edged with a coarser plain linen border, with a much later red lining. The shorter panel, having a later 19th century wide embroidered linen border, the main border showing more detail of the original colouring of the silk floss embroidery.
Long panel 160cm wide x 336cm long. Other long panel 160cm wide x 343cm long. Smaller panel 123cm wide x 204cm high.
Condition - the linen on the longer panels has become thin in places with minor marks and holes, the floss silk embroidery has faded to a muted pastel palette near the top, but towards the bottom of one, the floss silk embroidery is stronger in colour. The smaller panel has a few fine darns, wear and light stains. But the embroidery has not faded to the same degree as the other two panels, all three are in good condition for their age.
£3,000-5,000

Sold for £3,200