Early 19th Century Silk and Wool Work Picture in the Manner of Morland

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Early 19th Century Silk and Wool Work Picture in the Manner of Morland:
$895.00

When it comes to Georgian silk and wool embroideries, I confess to a fondness for traditional scenes of idyllic rural life chock full of sheep, dogs, country scenery and young folk in period costumes. This piece fits this descriptions like a glove. The fact that it is housed in its original simple, deeply molded stain pine frame with old, bubbled glass, puts it over the top.

The stitching is marvelously worked. There is enough of the raised early stumpwork-type stitching to keep one entranced for quite a while. Our stitcher was well versed in many of the complicated embroidery stitches that helped define and separate earlier 18th and early-19th century pieces from later Victorian ones.

French knots are used, but most of the stitching is in long and short stitches that have been carefully applied to replicate costumes, trees, fields, flora, animals and the ground. There is shading everywhere to help define the shapes and figures, making them even more appealing. The large pet dog standing in front of the couple and examining the bag held by the pretty young maiden is a delight in itself.

The costumes were elaborately stitched in red and cream wool, as well as embellished in silk. The hat perched on the maiden’s head is particularly charming with good attention to detail.

The background is painted on the silk in watercolor, as are the faces, hair and hands of the couple. I especially enjoy the expression on the girl’s face. One of the more outstanding attributes of this piece, other than the raised stitching and other expert stitchwork, is the exceptional color retention of the yarn as a whole. Everywhere you look the colors are still rich and deep. The color combinations of teal blue, earth and cocoa browns, reds, pinks, golds and creams all harmonize beautifully.

Considering the age of this piece of embroidery that is around 200 years old, this piece is in excellent condition. The only flaw is a splitting of silk in the sky. However, I feel given all the outstanding attributes of this exquisite piece of needlework, this minute amount of damage can easily be forgiven and overlooked.

There is an old label on the reverse which adds provenance to the piece. It reads: “George Hughes, Fine Art Dealer, Bewick House 50 & 52 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Carver and Gilder, Picture Frame Manufacturer, Old Frames Restored and Regilded, Oil Paintings and Engravings Carefully Cleaned, Restored and Backlined; Dealer in High-Class Oilpaintings, Water Colors, Engravings, Etchngs & c.; Works: Wellngton Place, Pilgrim Street.” This label shows that this large, prized piece was taken to a very upscale fine art dealer for framing who not only sold fine art, but also carved and gilded the picture frames for it.

It measures 24-3/4 inches wide by 22 inches high, including the frame.Personal and cashier’s checksalso accepted.Pleasecontact for international shipping rates, as well as to Alaska, Hawaii and U.S.territories.