Antique Victorian Wood Frame Fruit Basket Theorem on Velvet

This pretty theorem painted on white velvet depicts a basket of fruit surrounded by clusters of green grapes and leaves, with a dangling pair of strawberries and a fluttering butterfly. The sight size is 5 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches and it is in excellent condition under glass with no damage or stains, just a few ripples in the velvet. It's signed "Pat" to the lower right of the basket.

The triple layer Victorian wood frame dates from 1880, about a century older than the theorem. The outer tier of the frame is decorated with molded composition arabesques and scallop shells. The inner and outer edges are beaded and it's gilded in a soft gold. The sides are stained a dark brown. There are a few beads missing (shown), but those areas tend to blend in and are not obvious.

The center tier of the frame is decorated in faux tortoise, a glaze technique popular during the Victorian Eastlake period. The inner liner is painted silver, chippy and worn during the nearly 150 years since the frame was made.

The back of the frame has three tiers, also: the outer frame, an inner frame that secures the glass and a final one that holds the theorem. The lower right of the frame has a piece of wood missing (also shown). The nails that hold the frames together have oxidized against the wood. There's an old hanging wire that seems to be quite sturdy. The overall measurements are 10 inches by 12 inches by 2 inches deep and the piece weighs 1 1/2 pounds. We've photographed and mentioned the few flaws in the frame to be, as always, accurate, but this artwork displays beautifully.

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