European, Western Europe
Furnishing Fabric with Armorial Motif, about 1550-1650
Cut silk velvet with applied linen tabby embroidered with polychrome silk yarns and gilt yarns; couched silver and gilt yarns, 45.1 x 57.8 cm (17 3/4 x 22 3/4 in.)
This piece of cut silk velvet fabric has an ornate crest embroidered at the center. The embroidery is done in polychrome silk and gilt yarns on dark brown velvet. The yellow crest is broken into multiple sections. There are dark blue fleur-de-lis depicted in three of these sections, while the rest is the same as the silk background. The top of the crest is shaped like a tiara with what appear to be two large gemstones at the center. There are oval curved decorations on each side. The entire crest is surrounded by a wreath that is decorated with yellow floral and leaf motifs throughout. A serpentine yellow ribbon curves along each side. This piece has areas of wear, largely in the dark sections, but also visible on the crest, wreath, and ribbons.
Dutch 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.