Table Cover

Tiny birds, butterflies, and snails flit and slink among the repeated columns and blossom motifs of this embroidered table cover. In the early 16th century, materials like silk floss threads became more readily available, and printers began producing pattern books with designs for embroidery. By the time this cover was made, silk embroidery was widely practiced by women across social classes. It can be difficult to attribute band designs to specific cultures as they appeared with only little variation on domestic textiles and garments across Europe, including areas of the Balkans.