Tapestry / 12481

This Tapestry, 483 x 244 cm, is a large wool panel that reads like a painted chinoiserie scene in an understated neutral palette of browns, cream and white. Pagodas, peacocks and layered foliage are woven into a gently faded field where abrash and medium wear have softened the original tones into a tactile surface. The floral border retains its rhythm despite edge wear and sympathetic repairs; the centre shows areas of gentle loss and consolidated stitching. As an antique rug its quiet colour restraint and hand-made irregularities convey age and craft, a domestic textile refined by use. Circa 1850 - 1870