Magnificent Bargello Flame Stitch Antique Italian Silk Textile, Country of Origin: Italy, Circa date: 1900 – This gorgeous antique silk textile is a piece of Italian artwork dating from the turn of the 20th century. Bargello work is sometimes called Florentine canvas work and has been practiced for many centuries. It is a gorgeous antique embroidery textile piece that uses a pattern called the “flame.”
Bargello work is created using wool or silk yarns on an open-weave canvas. It is similar to embroidery in that a needle is used to pass the yarn through the canvas to create the pattern. The most common use for it was for furniture seats and for use on top of a table, such as to serve as a space for a formal tea set.
Although Bargello work reached its peak in the 17th century, some early pieces have been found that date to the 14th century. It was primarily practiced throughout Hungary, Italy, and Great Britain. It is a traditional needlework form that continued to be popular throughout the early Victorian Era.
This is a beautiful piece with floral borders and the flame center. This antique silk textile is a larger piece of textile art work and has fringed edges on all four sides, which indicates that it might have been used as a decorative table or bed covering. It would have been unusual to use these pieces on the floor like an antique area rug due to the delicate nature of the work. It was not unusual to place a beautiful piece, such as this one, as a decorative element underneath over a fine antique table or to hang it on the wall and display it as an antique tapestry.
This is a beautiful antique Italian silk textile and an excellent example of Italian Bargello work. It will make a beautiful addition to your room’s interior design or as a featured piece of a collection.