Description

Castello Branco, 18th century. This impressive embroidery, worked on a sturdy, hand woven linen background, was originally used as a colcha (marriage quilt) cover. The floss silk is corroded in small areas.The design depicts a  graceful array of flowers, including carnations, in a green lattice,  arranged around a tree of life motif bearing delicately coloured pomegranates and a mythical bird in the centre. Pomegranates are frequently found in textiles connected to weddings as they were seen as a symbol of fertility. In this example they are also filling the corners of the colcha cover, pointing towards and echoing the pattern at the centre of the textile.

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