Fancy Antique Hand-stitched Wreath-Like Mat with Velvet Center interesting tool with the LAO who initialed

with the LAO who initialed it clearly practicing her needlepoint skills across three vertical spans of what I read as towers of flowers

The back of this painting notes the subject as Eglise de Maisons Lafitte

not totally my usual thing but I thought--think--it quite striking and grand feeling

which I'd be most inclined to put in

dated May 1909

Fancy Antique Hand-stitched Wreath-Like Mat with Velvet Center interesting tool with the LAO who initialedI love the back of this mat as much as the front, revealing all of the hand stitching involved in its construction. I'm guessing made as a candle mat, with one candle to stand on the black velvet at center (a wonderfully imperfectly shaped circle). Found in Pennsylvania, late 19th c. I would guess. I'd be inclined to hang it on the wall, like a shining star or sun or wreath, but it would also be great at the center of the table. Approx 12" in diameter