William Tell Monument Silk Tapestry Swiss Framed

American Art Pottery & 20th Century Design by
Mark Bassett (aka 'potterybooks')
Author of Understanding Roseville Pottery

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All Items: Antiques: Decorative Art: Textiles: Accessories: Pre 1920: item # 372418

Mark Bassett (aka 'potterybooks')
Author of Understanding Roseville Pottery
P.O. Box 771233, Lakewood, OH 44107
216-221-6025

$150.00

This needlework weaving of an engraving depicts the 1895 bronze statue Wilhelm Tell (or William Tell), created by Zurich-based sculptor Richard Kissling, and erected at Altdorf, Switzerland. The piece appears to be in its original painted wood frame, which measures 18-3/8" x 12-3/8". (The piece itself, as mounted on board, measures 18" x 11.75".

The manufacturer/weaver is stated as Seiden-Webschule Zurich (a school of weaving?--see lower left), and the sculptor is credited at bottom center, along with the engraver Fritz Kaeser (lower right).

I tried to do a little research on this piece on the Internet, and only found an auction listing for another Kaeser piece, depicting H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. That auction house called the piece a gray silk portrait, implying that that piece was a print on fabric. However, a closeup study of the William Tell piece looks (to me) like a weaving. The buyer will no doubt be more knowledgeable about this than I am, since pottery is my area, not textiles.

There are a few very small holes in the fabric, shown in the closeups. And also a few nicks to the frame. The paper on back is intact, and I do not wish to disturb it in order to remove the glass. Buyer will just have to buy the piece AS IS. Thanks for your understanding.

I did peel back one corner of the backing paper, which was torn, to take a photo of the fabric there. Hope that will help.

For more photos, please visit...
http://www.markbassett.com/Tell5.JPG
http://www.markbassett.com/Tell6.JPG
http://www.markbassett.com/Tell8.JPG
http://www.markbassett.com/Tell11.JPG