Victorian Framed Embroidery Crazy Quilt Style

This stunning hand pieced and hand embroidered framed art textile was made in the late Victorian era when crazy quilts had their heyday in the last quarter of the 1800's. Set into a gilt lined, walnut shadowbox frame, the artwork is composed of nineteen trapezoidal shapes of silks, velvets and cottons that fan out around the center circle. They are joined with gold silk feather stitches.

Each corner is decorated with a different flower using fabric appliques that are lavishly embroidered with French knots, straight stitches and satin stitches, to name a few. The four sides have gathered rosettes of pink and floral fabrics.

The center of the artwork is composed of four different colors of velvet, embroidered in white with the words NOW LOVE BE YOU (Now You Be Love?). A yellow satin stitch flower is surrounded by petals made of tiny white beads.

The walnut frame has a gilded liner and is mounted on a black-painted wooden shadow box about 1 1/2 inches deep. It measures 14 1/2 inches square and weighs 2 1/4 pounds. Everything is in very good condition, including the glass, with a few minor ripples in the fabrics and a bit of wear on the corners of the frame. The hanging wire on the back was replaced at some point, and it seems sturdy, so it's ready to display on your wall or shelf.

This antique textile is one of a kind and a tour de force of needle art.

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