Lot Essay
Jennifer Weardon discussed this group of embroideries ('A Synthesis of Contrasts', HALI 59, October 1991, pp.102-111), dividing them into various groups. The present example falls into her group 1, along with a similar example sold at Sotheby's London 6 May 1977 lot 52 and subsequently at Lefevre and Partners, 4 July 1980, lot 78. Others in the group include one in the Kirchheim Collection (Rippon Boswell and Co., 19 November 1988, lot 111; Kirchheim, E. Heinrich (ed.): Orient Stars -- A Carpet Collection, Stuttgart and London, 1993, no.52, p.78); and two which were combined later to form a single panel, offered in our New York salerooms 17 December 1996, lot 68). All are worked in cross-stitch on a black ground with designs that radiate from a central gabled octagonal panel.