Appliqued Textile Fragment

Appliqued Textile Fragment, probably England, first half 18th century, the fragment, apparently trimmed from a larger textile, perhaps a bed hanging, intricately decorated with a central basket with emerging flowers, the leaves and petals of which are cut from individual swatches of dyed plain weave broadcloth applied to form leaves, peonies, roses, and bellflowers, all stitched to a thin twill-woven woolen backing, (imperfections), ht. 13, wd. 24 in. Provenance: According to the consignor, "It was purchased in the 1990s at the sale of the contents of KITLEY HOUSE near PLYMOUTH, DEVON, the home of the Polloxfen and Bastard family since the C16th. The house is now a hotel. The textile was found in one of the attics when the auctioneers were clearing the house prior to sale."