NEEDLEWORK DUMMY BOARD OF A GENTLEMAN, 19TH CENTURY

Worked in tent stitch.

Skinner, Boston, March 30, 1996, sale 1704, lot 264.

Advertisement for Skinner, Maine Antique Digest, April 1996, p. 44-H.

Some losses to stitches and fading to colors. His right arm is broken and secured on the reverse with staples; now resulting in a tear to the needlework at front. Some losses to the foundational fabric at edges of dummy board. Wood base with old wood worm damage and scratches. Fabric backing to reverse with some tears and losses.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

While dummy boards were used as fire-screens and decorative pieces throughout the late 17th and 18th centuries, needlework or cloth-covered dummy boards only began appearing in the Victorian era. In the 19th century, dummy boards came back into fashion and often depicted characters in Elizabethan dress.