To me it appears that it was a commercial piece that someone started to embellish the clothing but did not finish. Embellishment will add texture and allow individualization of colors although most seem to use similar colors to the original. Just speculation but probably a sentimental piece that someone had framed after the person who was working on it became ill. Easy fix if you do not want to continue working on it is to have the back covered. Someone I knew long ago had a similar piece which had originally been worked on by the ladies of the church for an altar before the church was bombed during WWII. Not all were expert needlewomen.

@maifleur03 Love the image of church ladies working on a piece before WWII. And laughed at "Not all were expert needlewomen." A dear friend used to say she wasn't sure which was harder: herding cats or working with church volunteers.

@lindac92 I do think it's charming even if I never learn more about it. Would you suggest finding a place that specializes in framing needlepoint if there is such a thing or do you find any framer can do it? The edges are pretty rough so not sure how that is handled. It looks like it tore out of the frame a bit.

This looks very similar to a practice called "penciling in" that was popular in the early 1900s.

We found, what we thought was a very well done drawing of some relatives by another relative and learned of this process.

Photography was still very sketchy then, and talented artists would "pencil in" the areas that the photograph kind of missed out on.

Mind you, this is just a guess, but it might be a similar process.

I would guess that most "good" framers are experienced in framing needlework. In looking at the closeup of the edge, I suspect it's older than I originally suspected, or perhaps had been used as upholstery and tacked at the edge. And thinking a little more perhaps all that messy stuff on the reverse was someone making repairs. Wish I could see it closer and touch it!

I found a textile conservation shop which led me to a textile appraiser. She said "it is Continental needlework and appears to have been made in the latter part of the 19th century. The frame appears to be original to the piece which is good. Insurance value on the piece is about $850-$1,000. I suggest you call the local museum whose name I cannot remember and ask them which framer in town is the best. Take the piece to them and have an acid free back put on the piece and a glass with spacers between the needlework and the glass and keep the piece in the original frame."

Most surprising to me is that the frame is that old. BTW, conserving the piece was around 2K. The appraiser didn't feel it was necessary.

I'm going to disagree with your appraiser on the age of the frame.....and that thef rame is original to the piece. Do you mean to tell me there has been no glass nor backing on that piece for 125 or more years? Small wonder it hasn't fallen to pieces or moths or silver fish.