17th Century English Stumpwork Depicting the Judgement of Solomon

Item Details

Unsigned

An antique piece of English silk needlework depicting the biblical judgement of Solomon, featuring three-dimensional stumpwork. This piece, from the third quarter of the 17th century, depicts the story with the figures wearing English fashions of the time, and the figure of King Solomon resembling King Charles II of England. In the scene, a dead child lays wrapped in blankets at the feet of the king, and two mothers each plead for the life of a second baby, held naked and upside-down by a man with a sword. They are placed in a countryside surrounded by insects, trees, and other animals, and there is a castle on a hill in the distance. This piece uses French knots, bullion knots, satin stitching, and extensive padding and stumpwork with needle weaving and beaded embellishment in its depiction of the scene, adding detail and dimension. The work is unsigned and presented behind glass in a gold tone wood and gesso frame with wire to the verso for hanging.

Condition

- minor wear, discoloration, and finish loss throughout the frame; discoloration throughout the textile with minor fraying to threads and bead loss throughout; wrinkles throughout ground; some loose stitches.

Dimensions

- measures the frame; visible image measures 12.25" W x 9.25" H.

Item #

18IND103-127