Around the middle of the 16th century textile designers began to make use of classical
architectural ornament. Textiles began to resemble the stone or stucco ornamentation of
buildings, lacey ironwork and delicate plants interlaced with flowers giving rise to the
"candelabra" pattern ending around the end of the 16th century. Called "candelabra"
pattern due to the many branches in the design. The symmetrical vertical theme was well
suited for the coverings of columns and walls and is well documented in paintings of the
period.

Pile-on-Pile: Pile refers to the threads which project from a ground fabric, pile-on-pile 
refers to two layers of threads, one higher than the other. Alto-e-basso is Italian meaning
high and low.

Condition: Some velvet pile is missing throughout from the ground but all silk threads
remain, this is consistent with a piece of this age. Made up of two pieces joined
together.