Fragment of a wall covering of cherry-red silk damask

Fragment of a wall covering, of cerise-red silk damask. (In satin, taffeta and twill weave). A strictly symmetrical ornament of acanthus leaves, bounded by straight and curved lines, frames two pointed fields placed one above the other, within which asymmetrical motifs are suspended from a ribbon with a bow; one consisting of a precise flower basket with a naturalistic floral arrangement, the other formed by a mandolin and a tambourine. Intermediate fields of approximately equal size, alternating with the first, carry an oval medallion with a pearl border, also hanging from tied ribbons, starting at the knots of the acanthus ornament. The medallions are filled with two crossed horns of plenty. The main ornament is enlivened with fine winding sprigs and symmetrical fields with net filling. This fragment originates from the ballroom in the official residence of the Mayor of Amsterdam, Herengracht 502, demolished in September 1950.