A small hand embroidery of a recumbant lion. The background is of a plain, brown fabric and the threads are of many shades of gold coloured silk thread. The whole picture measures 31.5cms x 19cms. I am not an expert, but think this is Japanese and from the Meiji period (early 19th century). I have removed this from a heavy frame, under glass, and have photographed the reverse which shows a newspaper cutting (torn) as the back. Also a piece of fabric. The lion has a good expressive face. The grass area has probably lost a bit of brightness, but the lion's threads show a range of tones which are bright. This will need to be reframed.