Italian
Motif for Application with Armorial Shield, possibly 1700-1800
Silk tabby applied on silk tabby embroidered with silk and metal yarns, 78.7 x 59.7 cm (31 x 23 1/2 in.)
Coat of arms embroidery featuring four squares. In the top left square there is a row of flowers with plants sprouting from them. Underneath, there is a creature, possibly a seal. In the upper right square there is an elephant with a tower behind it. There is a flower next to the tower. In the lower left corner there is a well, with a lion climbing a tree next to it. The lion has a crown hovering above its head. In the lower right square there is another band of flowers with a sun-like flower above them and sprouting plants below.
Early Italian Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.