Not on display

Valance

16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Italy (made)

Bed valance of silk velvet with padded applique of silver tissue embroidered in coloured silks and couched metal thread. Repeating pattern of gadrooned vases of fruit, alternating with floral devices amidst slender interlacing leafy stems which terminate in monsters' heads. Along three sides is a narrow border filled with a wavy floral stem. There is a brown linen lining.

Object details

Category
Textiles
Object type
Valance
Materials and techniques
Silk velvet with padded applique of silver tissue embroidered in coloured silks and couched metal thread
Silk (Textile)
Silk Thread
Metal Thread
Velvet Weave
Applied Work
Padding (Process)
Embroidering
Brief description
Bed valance, silk velvet with padded applique of silver tissue embroidered in coloured silks and couched metal thread, Italy, 16th century
Physical description
Bed valance of silk velvet with padded applique of silver tissue embroidered in coloured silks and couched metal thread. Repeating pattern of gadrooned vases of fruit, alternating with floral devices amidst slender interlacing leafy stems which terminate in monsters' heads. Along three sides is a narrow border filled with a wavy floral stem. There is a brown linen lining.
Dimensions
  • Length: 278.5cm
  • Width: 31cm
Gallery label
(5 Oct 2006 - 7 Jan 2007)
Bed Valance
16th century

Richly embroidered bed hangings were often the most expensive part of the furnishing of a camera. In Venice beds were commonly fitted inside alcoves, with curtains to conceal the wooden structure and hide the bed during the day. This striking bed valance would have hung high on the bed frame under the canopy. [53 words]

Italy
Silk velvet with padded appliqué of silver tissue embroidered in coloured silks and couched metal thread

V&A: 37-1903
Object history
Purchased. Registered File number 2481/1903, 30463/1902.

Said by the vendor to have come from the neighbourhood of Avignon.
Production
Previously attributed to Italian or Spanish.
Subjects depicted
Floral Patterns
Interlace
Bibliographic reference
Ajmar-Wollheim, Marta and Flora Dennis, At Home in Renaissance Italy, London: V&A Publishing, 2006.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
37-1903

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Record createdDecember 18, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130320/valance-unknown/
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