A pair of 19th century silk ciselé velvet hangings
Of late 17th century design, with leaves, flowers and the Florentine giglio, or fleur de lys, in a cut pile with a silver gilt bouclé weft on a ground of yellow silk with a further weft of silver gilt thread. Hangings of this type are often referred to as palio (a word which means, simply, cloth), and lend their name to the various horse races in Italian towns, most famously Siena, at which they were apparently offered as trophies for the contrada, or district, represented by the successful rider. A palio, or drappellone (banner), remains the prize awarded to the winning district.
Height 295 cm (116”)
Width 59 cm (23”)