A René d'Harnoncourt "Mexican Masters" framed needlepoint tapestry
Mid-20th century, Mexico
A large pictorial needlework panel designed by René d'Harnoncourt for Fred Davis on the occasion of his birthday, worked in polychrome yarn and threads on a likely linen ground, with five pictorial panels inspired by classic designs from various sources

Top panel: Los Monitos [the little monkeys]: With various musicians and people presenting food to a seated couple in the center.

Second panel: with various designs inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch motifs and traditional sampler figures including dogs, birds, plants and flowers, and also lions.

Third panel: Cuernavaca: with colorful view of Cuernavaca's city buildings and city landmark, scenes with trees, birds, and various people and city life.

Fourth panel: A narrow panel with various traditional sampler motifs such as crowns, lions, birds, ornaments, with two dedications with initials: JMS within a heart and CD within a basket.

Fifth panel: The lowest panel displays various named figures within a classical arched colonnade including Davis, Rivera, Zapata, Max [likely Emperor Maximilian], Cortes, Borda, Morelos, and Plancarte.

Spanish text around the edge:
"Si el dechado se perdiers. Como suele acontecer. Suplico al que se lo hallare. Me la sepa devolver. Y si no sabe mi nombre. Aqui lo voy a poner. Mas si fuege de unas largas. Y de corto parecer. No olvide aquel mandamiento. Que-dice no hurtaras te cortaras. O te iras con barrabas."

"If the sampler is lost. as usually happens.
I beseech him to find it.
Know how to return it to me
And if you don't know my name.
I'm going to put it here.
But if it was a long one you will not steal you will cut yourself
Or you'll go with Barrabas"
52.25" H x 32.5" W (on stretcher)
Provenance: The Collection of Frederick W. Davis
Private Collection, Northern California, by descent from the above

Other Notes: This lot accompanied by a pamphlet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art entitled: "Pennsylvania Arts And Crafts," (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1949), as well as an artist's folio with various sketches: Antique Designs II / Sketchbook / [signed] R d'Harnoncourt.

Overall good condition with dust accumulation and wear commensurate with age and use. Scattered fading to some colors. Slight darkening and scattered areas of minor staining to ground fabric. Scattered small areas of minor stitch losses to some images. Textile mounted to wooden stretcher; not examined off of stretcher.

Frame: 54.25" H x 34.75" W x 0.625" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.