I didn't think twice about this one, a complete heart-driven decision--and it's one I'll be happy to keep for a while or forever. It was never finished, and shows old water damage (mostly to the left side of the silk)--but if there were ever a thing provoking a sort of 'only a mother could love it’ empathy in addition to just sheer delight, this naive, early 19th century silk on silk embroidery would be it for me. Those ink drawn faces, and the dainty little arms and elbows of the girl at right, and that little doggy, head pointing in the opposite direction, with raised, looped stitches perfectly evoking fur. And then those gorgeous waves of grasses, and gold to dark green smooth leaves, and banded bark on the tree...these early silk on silk embroideries, the folkier the better, really do it for me.
In a great period frame under glass with nailed on wood back where it has lived a very long time. Framed: 19 1/2" x 16 1/4. Sight: 16" 13". Silk area only: 14 1/8" x 11. The silk is sewn onto linen, visible around it on all sides--original to it or sewn to it much not much later. As evident, the shape of the silk is irregular. I have not tried to open the frame. but it does not appear it would be very hard to remove the nails to open it.
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