Silk velvet panels, ten, 1750-1800, Spanish. Yellow satin ground with a pattern in velvet of vases of flowers, birds and dragonflies.

Ten yellow silk panels with a pattern in velvet of vases of flowers, birds and dragonflies.

Acquired by the Museum via Juan Facundo Riaño, its Professional Referee in Spain from 18970, from the dealer Antonio Sánchez at calle de Elvira in Granada in 1872. Described when first seen by Riaño as '4 breadths of fine thick amber satin woven with flowers & birds in velvet of a darker shade, Spanish manufacture of Talavera 18th century & evidently for a bed cover... the four breadths together came to 12.5 yards. The preservation is first rate and the price 20 guineas.' The Museum paid 1,800 reales for them in 25 October ('cuatro tiras de tela de seda amarilla con adornos aterciopelados'). They were delivered to South Kensignton by Mr Layard, and arrival acknowledged on 30 January 1873. At that time, the silk was in one large piece and one small piece as one of the widths had been unpicked from the others that made up the quilt. The others were subsequently unpicked at an unknown date, and they vary in colour, probably due to exposure to light and dirt, and previously being exhibited.

Design and technique
Design reminiscent of those produced in the premier European silk-weaving centre of Lyon, on which Talavera had drawn its designers from its foundation onwards (ie. from 1738). At the end of the century, the Spanish crown...

Talavera as a centre of silk-weaving

Use

Based on the Spanish provenance of the textiles and on the commentary of Juan Facundo Riaño's note to the South Kensington Museum at the time of acquisition

65G-1873