Early 1600s English Needlepoint Pillow With Birds and Fruit Trees

Details

Description

This early 17th century English needlepoint pillow is finely worked in wool and silk and features a richly detailed orchard … Read more This early 17th century English needlepoint pillow is finely worked in wool and silk and features a richly detailed orchard scene filled with fruit bearing trees, birds, and a charming pastoral setting. The composition is lively and narrative, with dense foliage, rounded fruit clusters, and delicately stitched birds perched among branching limbs. The palette is warm and inviting, combining deep greens, muted golds, soft blues, and earthy reds against a dark ground that adds depth and contrast.

Originally created as part of a larger decorative needlework panel, this textile reflects the domestic craftsmanship of early English homes, where hand worked needlepoint was both functional and artistic. The imagery suggests abundance and harmony with nature, themes commonly favored in English needlework of the late Tudor and early Stuart periods.

The surface shows gentle wear, softening, and minor thread thinning consistent with age and centuries of existence, all of which enhance the character and authenticity of the piece. The needlepoint has been professionally mounted as a pillow with a later backing, making it suitable for display and decorative use today.

A rare and historically rich textile that brings warmth, texture, and early English charm to both traditional and layered eclectic interiors. See less