This substantial square tablecloth, originating from Macedonia, Greece, between 1880 and 1900, is a robust example of late 19th-century Balkan folk embroidery. Measuring 36 inches by 36 inches (91 cm x 91 cm), the piece is crafted from a durable, heavy-weave linen ground. The design is concentrated along the perimeter, featuring a dense, repeating border of geometric diamond motifs worked in a traditional palette of deep madder red and black silk or cotton thread.
The embroidery utilizes a combination of counted-thread and cross-stitch techniques common to the region, with stylized "tree" or floral pendants extending inward from the main border toward the plain central field. The outermost edge is finished with a delicate, whip-stitched bicolor binding that mirrors the primary color scheme. Despite its age and likely functional history, the textile remains in very good condition, preserving its structural integrity and the clarity of its intricate needlework.