An embroidered blue silk chalice veil, circa 1730, Italian or Portuguese, with birds and flowers, lavishly worked with gold and silk thread, central cartouche with family crest; together with another Castelo Branco chalice veil of green silk embroidered with birds, circa 1770, approx 56x51cm, 22x20in, 58x53cm, 23x21in (2) Provenance: The late Harry Matthews collection

• Green silk: two watermarks and very faint discolourations to the ground, embroidery is good • Blue chalice veil – blue silk ground has dark grease mark, a few small repairs to the ground, silk embroidery is faded overall. 4 rose motifs which are nearest the central medallion are worn as are the carnations in outer corners. Slight wear to 3 or 4 birds. A few lifting metal threads to the leaves, slight soiling to central medallion.