"Ciselé velvet.
Italy, possibly Florence, second half 16th or early 17th century.
Acquired in Italy.

The pattern, in red on a silvery white ground, consists of a curvilinear lattice of stems enclosing two kinds of stylised plant. The pattern unit measures 35 x 14 cm. The panel has been carefully assembled from several pieces, probably from a church vestment, and is edged with red silk fringe.

The pattern is formed by red silk pile, cut and uncut, on a background of white tabby silk, with silver strip bound by a white silk binding warp."

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