19th Century French Floral Needlework, Lyon Frame

Antique French needlework in its original gilded frame, stitched with a finely worked bouquet in soft tones of blue, ochre, and rose silk threads. At the base, the inscription reads Offert par Gasparine Lefondeur, suggesting this was created as a personal gift—likely part of a young woman’s needlework education, a common practice in France during the early to mid-19th century. The glass is original and beautifully wavy with faint bubbles, characteristic of hand-blown 
production.

Dimensions:
13 1/2" x 12 1/4"

Lyon, France, circa 1830–1845

The frame was supplied by the Lyon workshop of Hoeth, located at the corner of the Montée de la Glacière and rue Saint-Polycarpe. Hoeth is listed in 19th-century directories as a marchand of engravings, drawings, and gilded frames, known for painted glass and embroidery mounts. The printed label on the verso is an important clue, anchoring this example to a documented regional maker active in the 1830s–1840s.

Stylistically, the restrained molding and delicate bead border reflect a late Restoration to early Louis-Philippe sensibility, when classical proportion softened and interiors shifted toward warmth, domestic craft, and intellectual life. The urn motif—balanced and symmetrical—was associated with refinement and the cultivated home.

The silk thread has mellowed to a gentle, harmonious palette, and the linen ground carries the warm patina of age. The gilded surface of the frame shows scattered wear and cracking consistent with authentic 19th-century gesso and leaf. Ready to be hung as found, or can be made ready to hang upon request at checkout.

Age-appropriate wear to the frame and textile, including small gilding losses and mellowed color. Original wavy glass with hand-blown irregularities; all stable and consistent with early 19th-century materials.