Table carpet fragment

Unknown

late 16th century · Canvas worked with wool and silk thread; tent stitch · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Textiles were rarely used as floor coverings in the late sixteenth century, except by the wealthiest individuals, but "carpets" of pile weaves, tapestry weaves, or embroidery were often used to decorate tables. This fragment of a large table carpet displays strapwork motifs typical of other English sixteenth-century decorative arts such as wood carving and plaster decoration, and the ripe fruits, flowers, and vegetables are varieties that often appear on embroidered objects of the period. These include Tudor roses, pomegranates, pears, squash, honeysuckle, and grapes. The somewhat awkward drawing of the armorials suggests that this was not the product of a professional workshop. The table carpet may have been an amateur or semi-professional production, perhaps made by servants and extended family members for use in their own home. However, this project was no small undertaking; when complete, the carpet might have measured as much as twelve to fifteen feet in length.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 16th century

Medium

Canvas worked with wool and silk thread; tent stitch

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1954