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c 1800 Decorative Hand-Stitched + Painted Silk Mourning Memorial to Shakespear

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 2,800.00 USD
c 1800 Decorative Hand-Stitched + Painted Silk Mourning Memorial to Shakespear
Federal Period
c. 1800 Framed Silk Mourning Memorial For "Shakespear"
c. 1800 Federal Period, Exceptional Decorative Hand-Stitched and Hand-Painted, Silk Mourning Memorial to "Shakespear" Framed, Choice Extremely Fine.
This beautiful Antique Silk on Silk Memorial likely dates from the late 18th Century. The large oval silk image measures 9.5" x 11.5" and is housed in a highly decorative antique wooden frame that measures to 14" x 16" overall. The large oval central picture features a classical goddess with wings on her head, placing flowers on a tomb, which is titled "Shakespear" (sic) (the famous William Shakespeare died in April of 1616). The sky, face, arms and feet are hand painted on a silk background and the rest of the picture is embroidered with silk thread. This elegant picture was likely made at a girls school, as such detailed embroidery was an important part of a girls education of that period. There is a very small .25” area on the left arm of the goddess where the silk has a tiny split. Some of the silk fabric has been Hand-painted such as in the areas of the sky, the goddess’ face and hair, which is very skillfully accomplished. The golden wooden frame has some very small chips and hairlines in the gesso and some areas of light wear. With some modest conservation it will present well and be excellent for display of this valuable, superbly executed early memorial silk. Overall, this vibrant Silk Mourning Memorial display is in a wonderful state of preservation.