This extraordinary piece of seventeenth century needlework was originally executed with fine silks on a linen ground, in tent stitch, and is composed of many different 'slips" or spot motifs, cleverly fitted together.

Many of these motifs have symbolic and/or heraldic significance, and they can be traced directly from the drawings in Peter Stent's pattern books, published in England in the mid seventeenth century. Almost identical to drawings in Stent are the various creepy-crawlies (snails, caterpillars, wasps, moths), the speckled Lillies of the Mountaine, the columbine, the ape (a symbol of mischief as well as the sense of taste), A Tulipa, and more. While much of the maker's inspiration was likely gleaned from Stent, other contemporary sources certainly inspired this wonderful, cleverly composed and well-balanced needlework picture.

Like the original, it is executed entirely in tent stitch (petit point), in a palette of 34 colours, and the reproduction measures almost exactly the same size as the original.

Linen: 35 count. Kit contains fabric, silk or cotton thread, needle and instructions.

Finished size: 9"x13"

Below are some close up pictures of sections of this piece and also, right at the bottom is a picture of the 1640 original.