19th Victorian wooden carved side panel from a hearse / funeral carriage. This panel has been bleached to enjoy the fine details of its linenfold carving. Another matching panel would have been on the other side of carriage.
These horse-drawn carriages would have originally been covered by fabric but due weatherproofing, longevity or wealth, they were carved out of wood. In Victorian times, the carriage's most important role was taking the deceased on their final journey to the cemetery, mourners would follow behind on foot. The Victorians spared no details in the drama of Death. The panel has a metal frame screwed to the top and the bottom and a hanging wire on the back. It has some weathered cracking but seems to be just surface. Again, it has been stripped of color to enjoy the fine details in the carving. In between the curtains, a soft blue paint has been added.
This panel of curtains came from a large Mourning collection in Vermont.
Measurements are approximately
29 1/2" Tall x 41" Long