Antique Embroidered Firescreen Panel

Antique Embroidered Firescreen Panel

France, Late 19th Century

20.25” x 21.25”

A richly detailed antique embroidery featuring a fantastical bird of paradise surrounded by exotic florals, a butterfly, and a serpent—all hand-stitched in soft wool or silk thread on a tightly woven canvas ground. Originally crafted as the central textile for a 19th-century French firescreen, the panel has been remounted on board and framed later for wall display.

The stitching showcases an array of traditional techniques, including satin stitch, long-and-short stitch, and French knots. The design is especially lush, with vibrant colors still present in the bird’s wings and surrounding botanicals.

Some soft wear and thread thinning to the background textile, most visible in the upper section, consistent with age and past use. The embroidery itself remains beautifully intact.

A striking example of continental needlework that blends natural history, fantasy, and fine craftsmanship.