Maison Speich, Large Italian Mezzaro “a vacchette”, circa 1850

Maison Speich, attributed to.

Large square Italian Mezzaro inspired by the Indian palampores, painted on cotton canvas with engraved wooden molds.
Here is a model « a vacchette », or « small cows », characteristic of the Speich Manufacture production and dated to the mid-nineteenth century.
At the center of the composition is the tree of life emerging from a hill. A symbol already used in ancient Mesopotamia, the tree was conceived as a link of the three parts of the universe : the subsoil, dominated by magic forces, where its roots descend ; the surface of the earth, the kingdom of men, where the stem grows and develops ; the sky, the place of the divine, towards which the foliage grows.
At the base of the tree, there is a squirrel, symbol of foresight and attention, and a peacock, symbol of immortality, which rests on a branch of vine curved by the clusters and the flowers. On the sides a stag, goats and cows. All kinds of birds and butterflies fly among the flowering branches of peonies, daisies and roses.

Work by Maison Speich, circa 1850.

Good condition, wear consistent with age and use and the nature of the item. Mends on the right side.