IMPORTANT 17TH CENTURY CHARLES II ENGLISH STUMPWORK NEEDLEWORK PICTURE C.1650 For Sale

Royal House Antiques

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for salethis17th Century Charles II English Stumpwork Needlework Picture C.1650

Please note: The delivery fee shown in the listing isprovided as a guide only. For UK deliveries, it covers locations within theM25. For international deliveries, it applies to select areas within localEurope only. For an accurate quotation, please send your postcode or fulldelivery address, and we will be pleased to provide a precise delivery cost.

A wonderfully atmospheric and increasingly rare mid-17th century English stumpwork and needlework picture, circa 1650–1660, worked in coloured silk threads upon a pale silk ground. The composition centres upon a finely dressed lady and gentleman surrounded by a wonderfully eccentric profusion of oversized flowers, flowering branches, birds, butterflies, caterpillars, beetles, snails and other insects and creatures. Worked using a combination of finely stitched and raised elements, the deliberately differing scales of the figures, flora and fauna give the piece the wonderfully naïve charm for which English Stuart needlework is so admired.

Raised work, subsequently known as stumpwork, reached particular popularity in England during the 17th century and was frequently undertaken by highly accomplished young women from prosperous households as part of their needlework education. Designs drew upon biblical, allegorical, classical and courtly subjects, surrounded by fantastical arrangements of flowers, animals, birds and insects; separately worked and padded elements were employed to create the distinctive three-dimensional effect. The imagery seen here is particularly characteristic of the period, with closely comparable Charles II needlework pictures incorporating figures amongst disproportionately large flowers, insects, animals and birds documented in important museum and private collections.

The needlework survives with considerable age-related fading, discolouration and losses, resulting in the beautifully muted palette now visible and giving the work tremendous untouched decorative character. It is housed behind glass within an old carved gilt and silvered gesso frame, itself showing extensive historic rubbing, flaking, losses and exposed underlying gesso consistent with considerable age. Rather than detracting, this wonderfully distressed surface complements the ancient textile exceptionally well, creating a highly evocative piece of 17th-century English textile art with over three and a half centuries of genuine character and patina.

Dimensions

Height: 56cm
Width: 60cm
Depth: 4cm

All measurements are taken at the widest points.Should you require any additional or more specific measurements, please do nothesitate to ask.

If you have any questions, we kindly ask that youcontact us before purchasing.

About Us

Royal House Antiques is a privately owned familybusiness, originally established in Wimbledon, SW19, and now based inPulborough, West Sussex (RH20).

We specialise in sourcing and restoring the finestluxury antique leather seating, alongside a carefully curated collection ofantiques and decorative pieces dating from the 16th through to the 20thcentury.

In addition to antiques, we regularly stock piecesfrom renowned designers and luxury brands, including Fritz Hansen, RalphLauren, Roberto Cavalli, Charles & Ray Eames, Vitra, David Linley, Rolex,Tiffany & Co, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and many others.

Payment

We accept payment via any major credit or debit card

We kindly request that all purchases are paid forwithin 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, alternatively I am happyto provide delivery

Paid items may be stored free of charge for up to 14days. After this period, a storage fee of £20 per week will apply. We alsooffer long-term storage at highly competitive rates and are happy toaccommodate extended storage arrangements when agreed prior to purchase.

Please note that if purchased items remain uncollectedfor more than three months and no storage arrangements have been made,ownership of the item and any monies paid may be forfeited.

Condition

Please study the detailed photographs carefully, asthey form an important part of the item\'s description and condition report.

We encourage all prospective buyers to ask anyquestions before purchasing, as all items are sold as seen and as described.

Royal House Antiques cannot accept responsibility forassumptions or interpretations made independently by buyers. If there is anyaspect of the listing that requires clarification, we are always happy toassist.

As with all genuine antiques, vintage, and periodpieces, signs of age and use should be expected. Antique leather furniture, inparticular, will naturally display patina, creasing, and wear consistent withits age.

To preserve antique leather, we recommend annualwaxing to maintain suppleness and prevent moisture loss. Hand-dyed leathershould also be kept away from prolonged direct sunlight, as exposure may causefading and drying over time.

Delivery & Collection

All items are available for collection by appointmentfrom our Pulborough warehouse (RH20 1DE) after a cleared payment has beenreceived

Alternatively, we can arrange delivery throughout theUnited Kingdom, including Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, for an additionalcharge.

For a delivery quotation, please contact us with yourpostcode and the item reference. Delivery costs vary according to size, weight,and distance.

As noted above, the delivery fee displayed in thelisting is indicative only and applies to locations within the M25. Forinternational shipments, the quoted amount covers limited areas within localEurope only. This quote also covers a ground floor one man service meaning ifthe piece is large, it will require someone on site to help the courier unload,if you need a second person or the piece to go upstairs its not a problem butnaturally affects the delivery fee

Multiple-item purchases often qualify for substantialdelivery discounts, and we will be pleased to provide a combined quotation.

Courier Services – Large Items

For larger items that cannot be sent by standardparcel services, we work with a network of trusted professional couriers.

For European deliveries, we use a specialist furnituretransport company offering reliable and competitively priced services. Forworldwide shipping, we work with experienced international freight providerscapable of arranging:

Air freight (crated) – approximately 7–21 days aftercrating

Sea freight (soft-packed or crated) – approximately30–60 days

Please note that these timescales are estimates onlyand may be affected by customs procedures, airline schedules, shippingavailability, and port operations.

For larger deliveries, assistance may be required whenunloading. Delivery quotations are generally based on this assumption. Ifassistance is unavailable, please advise us in advance, as a two-persondelivery team may be required and additional charges may apply.

Standard delivery is to the ground floor only.Deliveries involving stairs, upper floors, or restricted access can bearranged, with courier charges typically ranging from £10–£20 per flight ofstairs, per person, per item. No additional charges usually apply where asuitable working lift is available.

All courier charges are payable directly to thecourier company. The delivery contract exists between the purchaser and thechosen courier.

Customers are welcome to arrange their own courieronce cleared payment has been received. Independent couriers must provide atleast 24 hours\' notice prior to collection. Unless otherwise agreed, allcollections must take place within 14 working days of purchase.

Import Duty & Customs

Many countries impose import duties and taxes onincoming goods. However, due to the age, category, and materials of many of ouritems, exemptions often apply.

For European deliveries, quotations typically includeall customs documentation and clearance charges, ensuring there are nounexpected costs upon arrival.

For destinations outside Europe, including the UnitedStates, customs duties or clearance fees may occasionally be payable. While themajority of shipments pass through customs without issue, any duties, taxes, orimport-related charges remain the sole responsibility of the purchaser as theimporter of record.

These charges cannot be covered by Royal HouseAntiques or the shipping company and cannot be offset through retrospectivediscounts.

Returns

Royal House Antiques offers a straightforward returnspolicy where an item is found to be materially different from its description.

Should any issue arise, we will provide a full refundonce the item has been returned and inspected within 14 days of receipt. Whereappropriate, we are also happy to discuss a mutually agreeable solution.

Please note that we do not operate a \"sale onapproval\" service. Purchases cannot be returned simply because the item isno longer wanted, does not suit a particular setting, or because of a change ofmind.

The transportation of antiques and fine furnitureinvolves considerable time, expense, and logistical planning. We thereforestrongly encourage all buyers to ask any questions they may have beforepurchasing.

If you remain uncertain, we recommend purchasing froma local retailer or gallery that may be able to provide you with a moresuitable option for your needs.

We pride ourselves on providing detailed descriptions,comprehensive photography, and prompt communication to ensure completeconfidence in every purchase.