Description

This Hungarian silk embroidery dates to the first half of the 20th century, possibly the 1920s.

It was made by the Matyo people, a small ethnic group in northeastern Hungary famed for their richly embroidered costumes.  This textile of almost square size displays the most joyful abundance of densely patterned flowers, including roses and tulips. The lavish embroidery is worked in silk on a black cotton ground.

Concentric circles outlined in light and dark green leaves around large flower heads form the centre of the textile. The border in the same colour scheme and richness of florals is framed by a band of small flower heads. A long fringe of around 25 cm length is knotted onto the edges of the textile, its silk threads picking up the colours of the embroidery.

This is a truly flamboyant piece of folk art.

The embroidery is in excellent condition.

£960