Fancy Antique Hand-stitched Wreath-Like Mat with Velvet Center folk art barn rubbing yellow paws together mischievously

rubbing yellow paws together mischievously

There is a very well done old mend

which of course spiritualists attempting to photograph ghosts and auras were simultaneously attempting to do

but also nice to be reminded of how to calculate the area of a square

Fancy Antique Hand-stitched Wreath-Like Mat with Velvet Center folk art barn rubbing yellow paws together mischievouslyI love the back of this mat as much as the front, revealing all of the hand stitching involved in its construction. I'm guessing made as a candle mat, with one candle to stand on the black velvet at center (a wonderfully imperfectly shaped circle). Found in Pennsylvania, late 19th c. I would guess. I'd be inclined to hang it on the wall, like a shining star or sun or wreath, but it would also be great at the center of the table. Approx 12" in diameter