Radiant Geometric Design Antique Wool on Cotton Needlepoint Candlemat threaded lid and then this stoic face

and then this stoic face with straight mouth and bulbous nose

I believe they were/are practice efforts in advance of making theorem paintings or decorating tinware (tole painting) and incorporate a combination of painting done with stencils and by hand

Paper mounted to board I believe

The rest were exuberantly

Radiant Geometric Design Antique Wool on Cotton Needlepoint Candlemat threaded lid and then this stoic faceI've developed quite a fondness for antique needlepoint candle mats and am snapping them up whenever I come across them, which is not especially often but I've found a few lately. I believe this is probably later 19th century, hand dyed wool on cotton ground, the construction of which the the reverse side reveals around the perimeter of the needlepoint. Fabulous color and I really love the almost optical illusionism of the geometric design. 7 3 4"