#2451 $975 Reserved
Gallenga stenciled silk/metallic fabric, 1920s
The textile art of Maria Monaci Gallenga (1880-1944) has been compared to that of Fortuny because they both produced hand-stenciled designs that drew inspiration from the distant past. The patterns of Gallenga, generally larger and less textured than those of Fortuny, often contain exotic birds or beasts.
In the 5th picture from the bottom, I can identify at least three different fantastic birds as well as a gamboling hart or deer. These creatures existed only in Gallenga's imagination, but they still have a devoted following in textile art.
Gallenga's loyal clients, who frequented her shop in Florence, preferred the naive, Gothic quality of her designs to those of Fortuny. This panel features the signature Gallenga undulating oval grid borrowed from Gothic ironwork designs. The ovals are filled with bird and floral motifs.
Like much of Gallenga's work, the panel is unsigned. See the two bottom pictures for a signed Gallenga piece with Gothic grid work like that in our piece. Note the similar treatment of running animals along the outside borders of the grid.
Throughout her career, Gallenga remained true to her original formula for stenciling on silk velvet. She used as many as 9 tones of gold and silver pigment to achieve the desired ombré shading. The metallic pigment does not tarnish or flake off, thanks to a special formula devised by Gallenga's husband, a Professor at the University of Rome.
The panel is stenciled with flat green pigment on a silk-and-metallic-fiber faille ground. The metallic gold fibers give the design a subtle scintillation picked up by the camera. Even so, the fabric is more sparkling to the naked eye. The back side of the fabric is satin weave.
The condition is almost excellent. The weave has pulled apart ever so slightly along the center vertical fold, but this is a minor flaw that does not spoil the appearance.
It measures 28" wide by 140" (3.89 yards).
