Embroidered hanging

We do not know the original form of the now oblong rectangular hangings, which are stitched together from nine pieces. The loose-woven linen base is covered on its whole surface with an embroidery of coloured, untwisted silk thread. The stitch is a vertically growing satin stitch, the so called point de Hongrie. Two long and three short stitches alternate in a zigzag line, embroidered with different colours in each line, so that the colours of the rainbow follow each other in gradations. The surface thus created resembles flaming tongues of flame. In the middle, in a yellow field, is a wreath of flowers with pink, yellow and light blue ribbons. It consists of carnations, tulips, peonies and dahlias, tied together on four sides with four bows. The middle of the wreath is filled with the wavy ends of the ribbons on its sides, in the central part, along the addition, two fragments of carnations are to be seen. In the four corners of the embroidery are diagonally placed bouquets: two peonies with a lily between them. The symmetrical composition shows renaissance influences. The drawings of the flowers were probably made after engravings. Several botanic pattern books were widely known in the 17th century, such as for example Crispyn I de Passe: Hortus Floridus. Utrecht, 1614., Emanuel Sweerts: Florilegium, Frankfurt, 1612.