Valance c. 1760

"Valance" is a beautiful example of 18th-century American needlework. The piece is a series of three embroidered linen panels, decorated with intricate floral patterns in shades of pink, red, yellow, and green. Hannah Hinman Twitchell Pierce, the artist, skillfully executed the delicate, flowing vines and blossoms that adorn the panels. The "Valance" is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, highlighting the artistry of early American needlework.