"Silk velvet.
Italy, possibly Florence, late 15th - early 16th century.
Acquired from Salvadori, Florence.

The symmetrical pattern, in green and gold, is composed of undulating stems, leaves and stylized blossoms. The pattern unit measures about 77 x 28.5 cm.

The velvet has green silk pile, pattern wefts of gold thread bound 1/2 twill, and looped gold thread.

This is a particularly fresh example of a bold and vigorous design which was extremely popular in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century."

European Textiles in the Keir Collection 400BC to 1800AD, Monique King and Donald King, Faber and Faber, London, 1990