An antique panel of Italian silk laid couched work in polychrome.
The panel is part of a larger wall hanging. The design is that of birds and flowers with a central motif of what was an embroidered Madonna and child.
The panel is very foxed in most areas, much of the original laid silk work has worn away and the original pounced design is visible.
There have been a couple of attempts at repairing the panel in the late 1700's/ early 1800's, there are appliques of silk work worked in brick stitch that have been cut down and used for repair, some are edged with gimp thread. The repairs do not however match the original embroidery.
The panel is backed with a striped silk that dates from the late 1700's to the early 1800's and has brass rings sewn to the top for hanging. The silk backing is also foxed.
The fragment measures 132 x 59.6 cm x / 52 x 23.5 inches.
