An Old Testament Biblical needlework panel, European, probably French late 16th century and later

worked in polychrome wool threads on canvas with silk highlights, depicting narrative scene from 'The Judgement of King Solomon' (I Kings III), within a four-sided border with grotesque motifs and foliate trails, allegorical figures in each corner, all against a brown ground,

Measurements: 287cm. across the top edge, 286cm. along the lower edge, 170cm. up the left side, 168cm. up the right side. Linen lining. Loosely attached across the lower edge. With metal studs attached across the top edge. Recommend attaching Velcro for hanging purposes in the future. There are areas of stiffness in areas, especially underneath the faces, due to areas having a 'rubber compound' (which is harmless and forms protective film - according on an old condition note) on the reverse. There are small areas of fine linen and canvas patches on the reverse of the textile, and along the lower edge, which appear to have been applied with a 'rubber compound' to the reverse of the original textile. There are three metal discs in each lower corner, which have been glued to the reverse of the worked canvas – underneath the lining. The original brown ground in the borders is extant in areas, with areas of loss showing the foundation canvas, and other areas have oxidised and have been reworked with black in areas, and a mustard colour in other areas, clearly visible in the photograph. There are later worked repaired areas to both top corners, and larger areas in both lower borders, and running along the lower edge (which have faded in colour on the front). There are small areas of repair overall, commensurate with age. Left and right borders have similar motifs but are not identical and the left has elements that are not on the right, for example inclusion of a baldacchino and a vase of flowers. Stable condition. Balanced colour and composition. Versatile size. Specialist Comment: Rare survivor of this genre of allegorical wall hanging. Very decorative. Some charming details to the border design and to original worked details in areas.
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For two comparable wool and silk figural needlework panels with similar surrounding ‘grotesque’ motif border designs, which interestingly show differences on both panels, described as French, circa 16550-1580, see Edith Appleton Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries and Related Hangings in the Metropolitan Museum,1985, Vol. I, No.41, a&b, pp.260-267, The Garden of False Learning, and The Wayfarer crowned by Happiness, and based on a woodcut by David Kandel, dated 1547 (without a border).

For similar border designs, see two embroidered panels, from The Life of Moses, Sotheby’s, London, 21^st October 1955, lot 51 & 52, a hanging depicting The Story of Esther, Sotheby’s, London, 15^th June 1928, lot 161, with the same figure of the lady holding the mirror in the lower right corner, and a panel depicting Aaron before the Pharoah, in the Art Institute of Chicago (described as English, late 16^th century).