A fine and rare quilted silk coverlet, English in oriental style circa 1730

the ivory silk field quilted with central quatrefoil enclosing tulips, leaves and other blooms, smaller circular quilted roundels to the corners on a running stitched trellis ground, edged with broad band of  silk lace  sprigged with pink, blue and green floss silk rosettes, the quilt centre embroidered and appliquéd with  a swirling medallion of  overlapping bud motifs in couched, diapered  silver thread, lime and moss green silks, edged in twisted silk cord, the corners similarly applied with plants sprouting from padded, satin stitched purple, green and gold thread hummocks, the green satin outer borders appliquéd and embroidered with naturalistic coiling flower-heads in brilliant pinks, reds and golds, edged in raised black or coloured silk cord, 194 by 207cm

 

Estimate £5000-8000

 

The combination of vivid orientalist embroidery (influenced by Indian embroideries of the 18^th century) with the very traditional English under-stated quilted ivory silk ground makes this piece outstanding. The small size of the central quilted panel may suggest that it was originally constructed for use as a bearing cloth at a christening or used on a cradle. The silks of the quilted ground show signs of wear unlike the border and embroidery and it is probable that these were added to the coverlet at a slightly later date. It is possible that a cradle quilt was enlarged to celebrate a marriage as the child became an adult.

 

Condition:

 

Overall view: the colours of the embroidery are as vivid as the day it was made. It has been concealed from daylight for centuries and thus is relatively well preserved and the metal threads are still lustrous. Here and there some of the corded edging silks have come adrift and need re-couching.

 

Quilted ground – generally with fine splitting, though this is not immediately noticeable as the brilliant embroidery draws the eye. There are large splits and holes to one quilted corner roundel. There is faint brown discolouration along a central fold line and also faint brown discolouration to the lower third of the quilted area.

 

Green outer border – generally good, although there are splits to the extreme outer edges and to one corner.

 

Lining – re-backed in cotton in the 20^th century