Description

A lively maritime woolwork panel, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, showing a graceful young woman in navy sailor attire on a yacht deck. The composition includes a Union Jack draped to one side and yachts underway beyond, giving the piece a patriotic nautical feel typical of the period.
The embroidery appears to be worked in long directional stitches in coloured wool yarns, with the face printed paper insert, an approach often seen on Victorian and Edwardian examples to add lifelike detail.
Now set in a later decorative frame encrusted with assorted shells and finished with a pale fabric slip, which gives a playful coastal presentation and makes the picture ready to hang.
Overall size approx. 63cm high x 38cm wide x 3cm deep.
Condition: the panel presents well with age-related toning and minor handling wear consistent with an antique textile. The later shell frame shows small nibbles and scattered shell losses (see photos).