Set of Four French Antique Needlepoint Theater Panels, 19th Century

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Originally used in a French theater during the 1800s, this set of four needlepoint panels features whimsical images. The panels … Read more Originally used in a French theater during the 1800s, this set of four needlepoint panels features whimsical images. The panels are influenced by Italian grottesche, a style of decorative art seen in ancient Rome and later revitalized during the Renaissance.

Most of the motifs are identical, with a series of whorled vines rising up through a complicated arabesque of mythical animals, flowers, and architectural elements. However, if you look closely, each panel has a distinct mascaron on the upper half of the panel that symbolizes the four fundamentals of storytelling: tragedy, comedy, melodrama, and farce. Each hand-stitched panel is mounted on a wooden board, allowing them to be placed on a mantel or console, as well as hung on the wall. See less