Vintage

A charmingly naïve 19th-century embroidery of the Royal Coat of Arms, featuring a spirited lion and unicorn flanking a central shield and an unusual, expansive arrangement of seven surrounding flags. The shield, comprising the lions of England, the rampant lion of Scotland, and the Irish harp, is encircled by the Order of the Garter and its motto, "Honi soit qui mal y pense" (shame on him who thinks evil of it). Set against a deep, faded silk ground, the composition is framed by a lush arrangement of the Union’s botanical emblems; roses, thistles and shamrocks, all rendered with a soft, raised relief that catches the light. This rare folk-art study, housed in a period maple frame with a gilt slip, displays a charming patina.