Bidspirit auction | Funeral cloth. Spain, 17th century

Funeral cloth. Spain, 17th century - A funeral cloth made of black velvet with panels embroidered in silk and gold. The embroidered depiction of two large skulls, forming a pair, is set within a circular medallion, each of which is framed by a rich border embroidered with plant motifs. The plain black velvet features a fine brocade decoration not visible in the photograph. The ensemble comprises four textile fragments of similar dimensions, where pinkish plant motifs stand out against a yellow background. We believe these additions are later than the original large piece, and also date from the 17th century, like the skull-patterned velvet. Another narrow border, dating from a later period, runs around the perimeter of the ensemble. An uncommon type of textile. Dimensions: 173 x 125 cm