BILLIARDS ROOM SCENE WOVEN SILK STEVENGRAPH

Description

Some of the black paint is missing from the very bottom of the frame. If you hang it too high on the wall you can see it, otherwise you can't. Whoever buys this piece of art will probably want to touch it up. It would be a very easy job for anyone who doesn't shake like i do. That's the only reason i don't want to do it myself. Thank you for looking.
Very rare and beautiful, 1890's "stevengraph - type", Woven Silk Picture of an 18th Century Billiards Game titled "The Billiard Lesson" manufactured by Neyret Freres from a painting by Alonso Perez. This outstanding, Woven Silk Picture measures approx. 14 1/2" x 8" and is beautifully French Matted and framed for display (overall size of framed display is 21 1/2" x 14"). The Silk was woven by Neyret Freres et Cie - the highly acclaimed French jacquard loom, woven tapestry maker. Neyret Freres was contemporary to the more well-known Thomas Stevens of England, manufacturers of the Stevengraph Bookmarks and Pictures.. This stunningly beautiful and highly detailed, woven silk Image depicts a "game-in-progress" within the Billiards Room" of a palatial, 18th century estate. A beautiful, coquettish young woman holding a cue flirts with a young gentleman at one end of the Billiards Table while at the other end of the table two players examine the position of balls on the table. This Tapestry-like, Woven silk Picture is exceptionally beautiful and while executed in grey tone, the brilliant shine of the silk threads add a “depth” and luster to the Image that shimmers and shifts as one views it from different angles to the light. While we have handled many Stevengraphs and Woven Silk “Novelties” over the past 31+ years, this Billiards related
View is among the most beautiful we have ever come across!! In the 1862 Thomas Stevens successfully adapted the Jacquard loom to produce a wide range of silk woven items including bookmarks, ribbons and his most famous production "Stevengraphs". The name "Stevengraphs" refer to the various woven silk pictures mounted in cardboard mounts produced by Thomas Stevens manufacturing facility at Coventry. The "pictures" were most often sold as wall pictures. Stevengraphs sales really started in 1879, at the York Exhibition, where an operating loom produced the pictures that could be purchased by the public at one shilling each. There are approximately 160 different designs which covers a wide range of Victorian life. Stevens also produced hundreds of bookmark designs (over 900), many varieties of postcards, valentines, handkerchief boxes, needles cases and the like. Many of the bookmarks date from the 1860s. Very few designs were issued after 1910 and production came to an abrupt halt in 1940 when the factory was destroyed during the Coventry blitz. In the late 1800's, the silk ribbon weavers of England & Europe were experiencing very difficult trading conditions due to changing fashions and cheap imports from abroad. Several silk weavers had already diversified into related activities, and Thomas Stevens was one of these, with his Stevengraphs. While the term "Stevengraphs" strictly applies only to Thomas Stevens silk pictures, this has now become the generic title for all woven silks including those produced by some of the continental Tapestry makers such as Neyret Freres This very rare and very beautiful, Woven Silk "stevengraph - type" Billiard Room Image is in excellent condition. The Woven Silk Picture itself is exceptionally well preserved - clean and crisp with no staining, soiling, tears, fraying or physical damage of any kind. The surface sheen of the silk threads is brilliant and the Image simply striking. The “tapestry-like”, Woven Silk Picture is beautifully matted and framed for display. A very rare and very beautiful, 1890's "stevengraph - type" Woven Silk Picture of an 18th Century Billiards Game titled "The Billiard Lesson" manufactured by Neyret Freres from a painting by Alonso Perez and a fantastic addition to any collection