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Material: Silk
Lilly STEINER by Atelier Simone ANDRE, French Aubusson moderne tapestry - N 1556
Lilly STEINER by Atelier Simone ANDRE, French Aubusson moderne tapestry - N 1556

Lilly STEINER by Atelier Simone ANDRE, French Aubusson moderne tapestry - N 1556

Located in Paris, FR

Atelier Simone ANDRE, Aubusson Tapestry based on a cartoon by Lilly STEINER - L227xH110 cm - No. 1556 Artist: After a Cartoon by Lilly Steiner Era: 20th Century Style: Modern Art Co...

Category

20th Century French Modern Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

19th Century Chinese Silk Painting, Framed
19th Century Chinese Silk Painting, Framed

19th Century Chinese Silk Painting, Framed

Located in Bradenton, FL

19th century Chinese silk painting. Framed and matted. Features scene of Chinese characters in a ceremony. Beautiful muted colors of green, red, ...

Category

19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Wood

Japanese Contemporary Black Gold Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen
Japanese Contemporary Black Gold Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen

Japanese Contemporary Black Gold Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen

Located in Takarazuka, JP

Exceptional Japanese contemporary two-panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring two graceful ladies dressed in elegant formal traditional Japanese kimonos. This folding screen is ins...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Gold

Ottoman Silk  Red Tulip Hand Embroidered Suzani Tapestry
Ottoman Silk  Red Tulip Hand Embroidered Suzani Tapestry

Ottoman Silk Red Tulip Hand Embroidered Suzani Tapestry

By Ottoman Touch

Located in London, GB

Suzani tapestries are a type of embroidered textile that originated in Central Asia, and were popular throughout the Ottoman Empire. These decorative textiles were hand-crafted by sk...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Suzani Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

5x7.3 Ft Hand Embroidery Silk Bedspread. Vintage Wall Hanging. Suzani Tablecloth
5x7.3 Ft Hand Embroidery Silk Bedspread. Vintage Wall Hanging. Suzani Tablecloth

5x7.3 Ft Hand Embroidery Silk Bedspread. Vintage Wall Hanging. Suzani Tablecloth

Located in Spring Valley, NY

Suzani, a Central Asian term for a specific type of needlework, is also the broader name for the hugely popular decorative pieces of textile that feature this needlework in vivid col...

Category

Late 20th Century Uzbek Suzani Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

Scottish Sampler by Elizabeth Muir, c.1822
Scottish Sampler by Elizabeth Muir, c.1822

Scottish Sampler by Elizabeth Muir, c.1822

Located in Savannah, GA

Fine Scottish silk-on-linen sampler worked by Elizabeth Muir, aged 13 years, Burton, September 8, circa 1822, of East Lothian parish, featuring alphabet and number panels above paren...

Category

1820s Scottish Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Linen, Silk, Glass, Wood

Professionally Framed Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, Early 20th C.
Professionally Framed Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, Early 20th C.

Professionally Framed Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, Early 20th C.

Located in Istanbul, TR

It has been hand backed on linen and stretched over a stretcher , and finished with the wooden frame. Ready to go on any Wall.

Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

21x35 in Embroidered 100% Silk Wall Hanging, New Tablecloth, Boho Wall Decor
21x35 in Embroidered 100% Silk Wall Hanging, New Tablecloth, Boho Wall Decor

21x35 in Embroidered 100% Silk Wall Hanging, New Tablecloth, Boho Wall Decor

Located in Spring Valley, NY

Celebrate the rich heritage of Asian craftsmanship with this exquisite 100% silk Suzani textile, meticulously hand-embroidered by skilled artisans. A true work of art, this piece emb...

Category

2010s Central Asian Suzani Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Rare Large Format Antique Suzani Silk Embroidery, 19th C.
Rare Large Format Antique Suzani Silk Embroidery, 19th C.

Rare Large Format Antique Suzani Silk Embroidery, 19th C.

Located in Harrington Park, NJ

This large 19th century Suzani embroidery is an exceptional example of Central Asian textile artistry, originating from Uzbekistan. Composed of silk embroidery on a cotton ground, th...

Category

19th Century Uzbek Suzani Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

Pierre Adrien Chabal, Louis XVI Style Beauvais Tapestry Panel, France - C.1855
Pierre Adrien Chabal, Louis XVI Style Beauvais Tapestry Panel, France - C.1855

Pierre Adrien Chabal, Louis XVI Style Beauvais Tapestry Panel, France - C.1855

Located in Chatham, ON

Pierre Adrien Chabal-DUSSURGEY (1819-1902) Designer - BEAUVAIS TAPESTRY MANUFACTORY Maker - Important Antique Louis XVI style floral tapestry settee back fragment - the floral tapestry finely woven in wool and silk threads with garlands and swags and tassels - all centered by a powder blue ground cartouche with white roses within an oval frame - suitable for framing - France - circa 1855. Excellent antique condition - minor fading and loss - areas of wear/thinning - no apparent restoration - minor stains and soiling with signs of age and use. Size/dimensions - 35" (91.5 cm.) wide x 24" (61 cm.) high. Pierre Adrien Chabal-DUSSURGEY - born Pierre Adrien Chabal in 1819 in Charlieu and adopting the professional name of CHABAL-DUSSURGEY - well known for his paintings and studies of flowers in gouache and oils - attended the School of Fine Arts in Lyon - exhibited at the Paris and Lyon salons - he worked with the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory and the Beauvais Tapestry Manufactory after 1849 designing tapestries, rugs and tapestry covers for seating - he designed tapestries for the Élysée Palace and worked with Empress Eugenie on furnishings for the small salon at the Élysée Palace and two salons in the palace of the Empress in Biarritz - tapestry covered furniture...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

17th Century Fine Brussels Tapestry, Silk Wool, Green, Blue, Red, Battle Scene
17th Century Fine Brussels Tapestry, Silk Wool, Green, Blue, Red, Battle Scene

17th Century Fine Brussels Tapestry, Silk Wool, Green, Blue, Red, Battle Scene

Located in Port Washington, NY

In the late 17th century, Brussels tapestry weavers achieved remarkable heights of artistry and technique, exemplified by a fine tapestry from circa 1680 that vividly depicts a dramatic battle scene. This masterpiece, crafted from a blend of silk and wool, showcases a rich array of colors—primarily blues, greens, and reds—that create a visually arresting narrative. The central motif of the tapestry is a dynamic and detailed battle scene, where the vibrant hues of blues, greens, and reds intertwine to convey the intensity and chaos of the conflict. The blues range from deep, somber tones that suggest a foreboding sky or tumultuous waters, to lighter, almost ethereal shades that might evoke a sense of movement or distance. Greens provide a lush, verdant backdrop, perhaps representing a forested terrain or rolling hills, and contrast strikingly with the reds that highlight the uniforms of the soldiers, the banners they bear, or the flashes of conflict. The tapestry’s execution in silk and wool adds a luxurious texture and depth to the image. The silk contributes a lustrous sheen to the colors, enhancing their vibrancy and making the reds particularly vivid. The wool, with its more subdued texture, provides a rich, tactile quality that adds to the overall grandeur of the piece. Framing this central battle tableau is an intricately detailed border that serves as both a decorative and narrative element. This border features a lively array of figures, fruits, and birds, rendered with the same meticulous attention to detail as the central scene. The figures, often depicted in an elegant and somewhat theatrical style, may include allegorical or mythological characters, adding layers of symbolism and context to the tapestry. The fruits, depicted in lush, vibrant colors, provide a contrast to the intensity of the battle, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. Birds, possibly rendered in mid-flight or perched gracefully, enhance the sense of movement and liveliness that permeates the artwork. The border’s detailed design serves to frame the central action, drawing the viewer's eye inward and providing a harmonious balance to the overall composition. It is not merely a decorative element but an integral part of the tapestry, enriching the narrative and adding to its visual complexity. In its entirety, this Brussels tapestry from the late 17th century stands as a testament to the skill and artistry of its creators. Its use of color, texture, and detailed border elements reflects the opulence and sophistication of the period, making it a significant example of the era's weaving artistry and a captivating portrayal of historical and artistic grandeur. The Battle of Cannae: Hannibal's Masterstroke The Battle of Cannae, fought in 216 BC during the Second Punic War, is one of the most celebrated and studied military engagements in history. The conflict took place between the forces of Carthage, led by the brilliant general Hannibal Barca, and the Roman...

Category

Late 17th Century Belgian Aubusson Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug
Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug

Beautiful New Modern Hand Knotted, Abstract Design Rug

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Nice contemporary abstract design rug with beautiful colors, entirely hand knotted with wool and silk velvet on cotton foundation.

Category

2010s Indian Modern Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Vintage Chinese Watercolor & Ink Landscape Painting, Signed, Late 20th Century
Vintage Chinese Watercolor & Ink Landscape Painting, Signed, Late 20th Century

Vintage Chinese Watercolor & Ink Landscape Painting, Signed, Late 20th Century

Located in Chatham, ON

Vintage traditional style watercolor and ink landscape painting on silk (applied to paper backing) - hand painted - silk damask textile border - signed with a red seal lower right (u...

Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Paint, Paper

Rare Pair Korean Embroidery Civil Rank Badges Joseon Dynasty
Rare Pair Korean Embroidery Civil Rank Badges Joseon Dynasty

Rare Pair Korean Embroidery Civil Rank Badges Joseon Dynasty

Located in Atlanta, GA

A pair of fine Korean silk embroidered rank badge (Hyungbae in Korean) from Joseon Dynasty circa late 19th century. A matching pair of Hyungbae like these ...

Category

19th Century Korean Other Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Wood

Mid 20th Century Yao Group Embroidered Pants
Mid 20th Century Yao Group Embroidered Pants

Mid 20th Century Yao Group Embroidered Pants

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Mid 20th century Yao Group embroidered pants The muted earth tones of the patterns on these embroidered pants are typical of the work done by the ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Laotian Tribal Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Cotton

Antique Sampler, 1840, By Elizabeth Ann Fox
Antique Sampler, 1840, By Elizabeth Ann Fox

Antique Sampler, 1840, By Elizabeth Ann Fox

Located in Chelmsford, Essex

Victorian Sampler, 1840, By Elizabeth Ann Fox. The sampler is worked in silk threads on a linen ground, mainly in cross stitch. Meandering strawberry border. Colours green, dark brow...

Category

1840s Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Framed Antique Brocade Fragment, Early 20th Century./
Framed Antique Brocade Fragment, Early 20th Century./

Framed Antique Brocade Fragment, Early 20th Century./

Located in Istanbul, TR

First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. Early 20th Century, Russia Ready to go on a wall. ...

Category

Early 20th Century Russian Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Metallic Thread

Antique Japanese Recycled Zanshiori Jacket
Antique Japanese Recycled Zanshiori Jacket

Antique Japanese Recycled Zanshiori Jacket

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Antique Japanese Recycled Zanshiori Jacket Zanshi-ori cloth is woven from leftover cotton and silk threads, either from commercial kimono production or from home-produced recycled y...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

19th Century Purple and Gold Ikat Panel
19th Century Purple and Gold Ikat Panel

19th Century Purple and Gold Ikat Panel

Located in Harrodsburg, KY

An Uzbek ikat in silk with striking purple and gold pattern. An ikat is a textile in which the pattern is achieved by dyeing the warp threads prior to weaving. Now mounted on a woode...

Category

Late 19th Century Uzbek Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Pair of English 18th Century Blackwork on Silk Embroideries
Pair of English 18th Century Blackwork on Silk Embroideries

Pair of English 18th Century Blackwork on Silk Embroideries

Located in Vero Beach, FL

Pair of English 18th Century Blackwork on Silk Embroideries Pair of rare late 18th century black silk embroideries on a cream silk ground picture idyllic pastoral scenes. Blackwork ...

Category

Late 18th Century English Tudor Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Thread, Glass, Giltwood

Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Hermes Mercury Wool & Silk Square 6x6 176x178cm
Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Hermes Mercury Wool & Silk Square 6x6 176x178cm

Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Hermes Mercury Wool & Silk Square 6x6 176x178cm

Located in New York, NY

Antique French Aubusson Tapestry Birds Wool & Silk Large 5x9 1900 "This is an outstanding antique French Aubusson tapestry in a fantastic large square size- This wool & silk treasure incorporates impeccable attention to detail- Depicting a scene of Hermes and Mercury...

Category

Early 1900s French Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

4.3x5.5 Ft Embroidered Silk & Cotton Wall Hanging. Red Bed Cover, Tablecloth
4.3x5.5 Ft Embroidered Silk & Cotton Wall Hanging. Red Bed Cover, Tablecloth

4.3x5.5 Ft Embroidered Silk & Cotton Wall Hanging. Red Bed Cover, Tablecloth

Located in Spring Valley, NY

Introducing our exquisite new suzani hand embroidered wall hanging, a captivating piece that combines ancient craftsmanship with modern artistry. This embroidered cloth is not just a...

Category

2010s Uzbek Suzani Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

4.7x6.9 Ft Embroidered Tapestry, Modern Bedspread, Silk Wall Hanging, Wall Decor
4.7x6.9 Ft Embroidered Tapestry, Modern Bedspread, Silk Wall Hanging, Wall Decor

4.7x6.9 Ft Embroidered Tapestry, Modern Bedspread, Silk Wall Hanging, Wall Decor

Located in Spring Valley, NY

Suzani, a Central Asian term for a specific type of needlework, is also the broader name for the hugely popular decorative pieces of textile that feature this needlework in vivid col...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Suzani Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

Antique French Tapestry 1'2" x 4'5"
Antique French Tapestry 1'2" x 4'5"

Antique French Tapestry 1'2" x 4'5"

$3,920Sale Price|20% Off

Antique French Tapestry 1'2" x 4'5"

Located in New York, NY

Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven by hand on a loom. Tapestry is weft-faced weaving, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work, unlike cloth...

Category

19th Century French French Provincial Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

Antique Flemish Wool & Silk Tapestry 36cm×43 cm Mounted Scenic 1'x2' c.1790
Antique Flemish Wool & Silk Tapestry 36cm×43 cm Mounted Scenic 1'x2' c.1790

Antique Flemish Wool & Silk Tapestry 36cm×43 cm Mounted Scenic 1'x2' c.1790

Located in New York, NY

This 18th-century Flemish tapestry panel depicts a serene, blue-toned landscape with castle architecture framed by lush foliage. Handwoven in wool and silk, the composition reflects ...

Category

18th Century Belgian Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

1920s Red Foo Dogs Antique Chinese Silk Embroidery 3' x 3' Wool Woven Carpet Rug
1920s Red Foo Dogs Antique Chinese Silk Embroidery 3' x 3' Wool Woven Carpet Rug

1920s Red Foo Dogs Antique Chinese Silk Embroidery 3' x 3' Wool Woven Carpet Rug

Located in New York, NY

Early 20th Century Chinese Silk Embroidery ( 3' x 3' x 92 x 92 ) Antique Textile Small Scatter Size Wool Red Rug, Circa Date: 1925. This exceptional piece, though titled as a wool r...

Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

17th Century Aubusson Tapestry Remnant
17th Century Aubusson Tapestry Remnant

17th Century Aubusson Tapestry Remnant

Located in Houston, TX

A fragment of a 17th-century Aubusson tapestry depicts a man on his knee looking upward, visited by a radiant angel. Rich colors and intricate details capture the moment of divine en...

Category

17th Century French Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

Armour Tapestry
Armour Tapestry

Armour Tapestry

Located in Santa Barbara, CA

This Antique Medieval Armour Tapestry (5' x 6'7") is a striking example of European weaving, depicting a knight in full armor with exceptional detail and rich, vibrant colors. The in...

Category

20th Century French Medieval Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

Vintage Boho Distressed Silk Pishwaa
Vintage Boho Distressed Silk Pishwaa

Vintage Boho Distressed Silk Pishwaa

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Immerse your space in the devotional beauty and weathered soul of traditional Indian art with this monumental vintage Pichwai painting. Rendered in gouache on cloth, this large-scale...

Category

Late 20th Century Indian Space Age Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk, Wood

17th Century Brussels Tapestry "History of Solomon"
17th Century Brussels Tapestry "History of Solomon"

17th Century Brussels Tapestry "History of Solomon"

Located in New York, NY

This impressive tapestry depicts the celebrated meeting of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, a subject long admired for its associations with wisdom, diplomacy, and enlightened ru...

Category

17th Century Belgian Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

English Embroidered Silk Panel Of A Parrot, Circa 1890
English Embroidered Silk Panel Of A Parrot, Circa 1890

English Embroidered Silk Panel Of A Parrot, Circa 1890

Located in Atlanta, GA

A finely executed antique embroidered silk panel depicting a parrot perched on a branching limb, rendered with strong decorative clarity and highly controlled stitchwork. The bird is...

Category

19th Century British Georgian Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Vintage Uzbek Silk Suzani Textile, Hand-Stitched Prayer Design, 1900s
Vintage Uzbek Silk Suzani Textile, Hand-Stitched Prayer Design, 1900s

Vintage Uzbek Silk Suzani Textile, Hand-Stitched Prayer Design, 1900s

Located in Barrington, IL

A vibrant and finely hand-stitched vintage Suzani textile from Uzbekistan, Central Asia, featuring the rare and symbolic “Prayer Rug” pattern. This artisan-crafted piece is embroider...

Category

1940s Uzbek Vintage Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Cotton, Silk

French Manufacture Aubusson signed Tapestry 19th - Galante Scene - N° 1425
French Manufacture Aubusson signed Tapestry 19th - Galante Scene - N° 1425

French Manufacture Aubusson signed Tapestry 19th - Galante Scene - N° 1425

A stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower We are a family business specializing in the purchase, sale and expertise of old, modern and contemporary tapestries, rugs, kilims and textiles....

Category

1860s French Aubusson Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

19th Century Tibetan Thangka of Chenresi
19th Century Tibetan Thangka of Chenresi

19th Century Tibetan Thangka of Chenresi

Located in Chicago, IL

Thangkas are devotional paintings displayed by Buddhists in monasteries, temples, and even in their homes. The rich red, orange, green, and blue hues are still incredibly vibrant on ...

Category

Early 19th Century Tibetan Tibetan Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Brass

Pair Chinese Signed Embroidered Suzhou Silk Framed Paintings
Pair Chinese Signed Embroidered Suzhou Silk Framed Paintings

Pair Chinese Signed Embroidered Suzhou Silk Framed Paintings

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Beautiful framed pair of Silk Suzhou embroidery panels each depicting two colorful birds perched on blooming trees and flowers. Professionally framed and matted in the 50s. Hand Sig...

Category

1950s Chinese Vintage Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Wood

Monumental Chinese Ancestral Matriarch Scroll Portrait Painting
Monumental Chinese Ancestral Matriarch Scroll Portrait Painting

Monumental Chinese Ancestral Matriarch Scroll Portrait Painting

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Monumental Chinese Qing ancestor scroll portrait painting of a high ranking official or Imperial court matriarch. Features a intricately decorated Min...

Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Linen, Silk, Plexiglass, Wood, Lacquer, Paper

Pair Georgian Woolwork Embroidered Pictures of Girls with Pets
Pair Georgian Woolwork Embroidered Pictures of Girls with Pets

Pair Georgian Woolwork Embroidered Pictures of Girls with Pets

Located in Chelmsford, Essex

Pair of Georgian woolwork embroidered pictures of girls with their pets. Both are worked in wool threads on a silk ground, in a variety of stitches. With the girls' heads and arms ha...

Category

1820s Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk

Late 19th Century English Pair of Stevengraph Horse Race Pictures
Late 19th Century English Pair of Stevengraph Horse Race Pictures

Late 19th Century English Pair of Stevengraph Horse Race Pictures

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Late 19th century pair of Stevengraph horse race pictures, English. "Pure silk woven pictures" of a horse race "The Start" & "The Finish" in original carved oak frames (one frame end...

Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Oak, Paper

The Garden of Paradise: A Signed Turkish Silk Hereke Tree of Life Masterpiece
The Garden of Paradise: A Signed Turkish Silk Hereke Tree of Life Masterpiece

The Garden of Paradise: A Signed Turkish Silk Hereke Tree of Life Masterpiece

Located in Dallas, TX

79321 Signed Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, 02'02 x 03'03. In the grand tradition of Ottoman imperial artistry, this hand-knotted vintage Turkish silk Hereke rug is an exquisite te...

Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Metallic Thread

Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins
Tapestry   Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

Tapestry Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins

By Aubusson Manufacture

Located in Madrid, ES

Tapestry from the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period , made in 1738 at the Gobelins One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the History of Esther, illustrating Esther seated and attended by handmaidens, one washing her feet in golden basin, another fastening a bracelet, another offering a mirror, all observed by Mordecai, woven in the workshop of Michele Audran after a design by J. F. de Troy. The Toilet of Esther c.1778-85.Royal Collection Trust-Queens Audience Chamber Windsor Castle The Sketches for the Esther Cycle by Jean-François de Troy (1736) “and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mor’decai, ..., took for his own daughter.” (Est. 2:7) A supple and undulating genius, both a flattering portraitist and a prolix history painter, as well as a brilliant genre painter, in a gallant or worldly vein, Jean-François de Troy (Paris, 1679 – Rome, 1752), solicited, although he had passed the threshold of old age, a new royal commission up to his ambitions. To obtain it, he submitted – successfully - for the approval of the Bâtiments du roi (administration), seven modelli painted in 1736 with his usual alacrity. Inspired by one of the most novelistic texts of the Old Testament, the Book of Esther, these sketches in a rapid and virtuoso manner were transformed by the artist, between 1737 and 1740 into large cartoons intended to serve as models for the weavers of the Gobelins factory. Showing undeniable ease and skill in the composition in perfect harmony with the sensitivities of the times, the tapestry set met with great success. The Story of Esther perfectly corresponded to the plan of the Bâtiments du roi to renew the repertoire of tapestry models used for the weavers of the royal factories while it also conformed to the tastes of Louis XV’s subjects for a fantastical Orient, the set for a dramatic tale in which splendour, love and death were combined. Indeed, no tapestry set was woven in France during the 18th century as often as that of Esther. The series of modelli painted by de Troy during the year 1736 looks to the history of French painting and decoration under Louis XV as much as it does the history of the Gobelins. It probably counts among the most important rococo pictorial groups to have remained in private hands. First the Biblical source illustrated by De Troy which constitutes the base of one of the richest iconographical traditions of Western art will be considered. Then the circumstances and specific character of French civilisation during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV which contributed to making the theme of Esther a relevant subject, both attractive to contemporaries and remarkably in line with the sensitivities of the time will be elucidated. An examination of the exceptional series of sketches united here, the cartoons and the tapestries that they anticipate as well as a study of their reception will close this essay. The Book of Esther: A scriptural source at the source of rich iconography. The origin of the Esther tapestry set by Jean-François de Troy – origin and creation of a masterpiece According to the evidence of one of the artist’s early biographers, the chevalier de Valory, author of a posthumous elegy of the master, read at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on 6 February 1762, it was apparently due to early16 rivalry with François Lemoyne (1688-1737), his younger colleague who had precisely just been appointed First Painter to the King in 1736, that had encouraged François de Troy to seek a commission allowing him to show off his ease and his promptitude at the expense of a rival who was notoriously laborious: “M. De Troy, retaining some resentment of the kind of disadvantage which he believed to have suffered compared with his emulator looked to regain some territory by making use of the facility his rival did not possess. Lemoyne was excessively long in the creation of his works,and M. De Troy of a rare celerity: consequently, with this particular talent, the latter offered to the court to make paintings appropriate to be executed at the Gobelins Factory; and it is to this circumstance that we owe the beautiful series of the Story of Esther, which would be sufficient alone to give him a great reputation.”17 Beyond the suspicion inspired by the topos, which still constitutes, more or less, a tale of rivalries between artists in ancient literature, there is probably some truth in what Valory reports although A.-J. Dezalier d’Argenville (who indicates rather spitefully that de Troy did not hesitate to “cut prices” to impose himself, benefitting from the productivity assured by the unlikely rapidity of his brush)18 proves to be more evasive: “As he looked to busy himself, he had offered to make the paintings that serve as models for the King’s tapestries cheaply: which did not please his colleagues. He was given a choice of two tapestry series to be made and he took the Story of Esther and that of Jason”.19 Whether or not the choice was actually left to de Troy (which would appear rather casual on the royal administration’s part all the same), it seems likely that the artist, whose contemporaries extol his “fire”, as the faculty of invention was then called, must have ardently aspired to the possibility of using on a very large scale the “creative genius” with which Dezallier d’Argenville credits him. The decoration of the private apartments, the fashion for which Louis XV had promoted at Versailles and Fontainebleau, offered little opportunity to excel in this area. Other than painting for altarpieces, only tapestries could allow comparison with Lemoyne who had been granted – unfortunately for him – a major decoration: the enormous ceiling of the Hercules Room at Versailles. Favoured by the recent improvement in France’s financial situation, the revival of patronage offered de Troy a commission fitting for him, in a field in which, however, he had hardly any experience. Anxious to renew the repertoire of models available to the Gobelins factory, the Duc d’Antin, surintendant des Bâtiments du roi from 1708 to 1736 followed by his successor, Philibert Orry comte de Vignory, gave him the task of producing seven large cartoons inspired by the Book of Esther corresponding to the brilliant sketches or modelli which de Troy had produced in one go, or almost (very few preparatory drawings can in fact be linked to the Esther cycle and all seem to be at the execution stage of the cartoons).20 Subjected to the approval of the Administration des Bâtiments according to the procedure in use for projects being planned for the Gobelins, sketches made rapidly during 1736 were approved and the project launched immediately. Thereupon came the news of François Lemoyne’s death, who, ground down by work and a victim of his private torment, committed suicide on 4 June 1737. Against all expectations, de Troy did not replace his rival in the position of First Painter (which remained vacant until the appointment of Charles Coypel in January 1747), which would perhaps have made him too obviously the beneficiary of the drama. The awarding of the position of Director of the French Academy in Rome came to console him while he had already produced (or he was in the process of finishing), in Paris, three of the seven cartoons of the cycle (The Fainting of Esther finished in 1737 and the Toilet and Coronation of Esther, both finished in 1738). De Troy, we can see, did not follow the order of the narrative but began with the subjects which apparently offered the least difficulty because he had already depicted them, or because they fall into a strong pictorial tradition (such is the case especially for the Fainting of Esther). He had hardly settled at the Palazzo Mancini in August 1738, when his first task which awaited the new director of the French Academy naturally consisted of honouring the royal commission and finishing without delay the final cartoons of the Story of Esther after the sketches he must have taken with him. As prompt as ever, de Troy discharged himself of the execution of the four remaining cartoons in only two years, by beginning with the largest format which allowed him to strike the imagination and to impose himself as soon as he arrived on the Roman stage: the Triumph of Mor’decai which was finished in 1739 (like Esther’s Banquet). The following year, the Mor’decai's Disdain and The Sentencing of Haman were brought to an end in the same Neo-Venetian style, obviously tributary to Veronese with its choice of “open” monumental architecture which is characteristic of the entire cycle.21 The series, it should be noted, was almost augmented with some additional scenes in the mid 1740s. Indeed, the first tapestry set finished at the Gobelins in 1744 proved to be unsuitable for the arrangement of the Dauphine’s apartments at Versailles for which it had been intended to decorate the walls the following year (cf infra). Informed of this, de Troy, considering that the story of Esther offered “several good subjects,” immediately offered to illustrate one or new subject among those “which could appear to be the most interesting”. The directeur des Bâtiments Orry, who managed the State’s accounts, obviously judged it less costly to have one of the tapestries widened to fill in the end of the Dauphine’s bedroom,22 which has probably deprived us of very original compositions, because de Troy had already illustrated the most famous themes, those that benefitted from a strongly established iconographical tradition and from which it was not easy to deviate The Tapestry Set of the Story of Esther Placed on the tapestry looms of the Gobelins at the end of the 1730s in Michel Audran’s workshop, the cycle created by de Troy aroused true infatuation. The few hundred tapestries made between 1738 and 1797 – all in high-warp tapestry and woven in wool and silk except for four in low-warp made in Neilson’s workshop – show the impressive success of a tapestry set that was without any doubt the most frequently woven of the 18th century in France. 29 Only three cartoons had been delivered by de Troy in 1738 when the first tapestry set was begun by Audran under the expert eye of Jean-Baptiste Oudry to whom the Directeur général des bâtiments, Philibert Orry had assigned the (weekly) supervision of the weaving. During the summer of 1738, the piece of the Fainting of Esther, which Oudry judged to be admirable, was finished. During the winter of 1742, Oudry informed Orry that about two ells of the Triumph of Mor’decai had been made “with no faults”,that the Coronation of Esther was finished and that the Esther at her Toilet “a very gracious tapestry” was “a little over half” finished. Exhibited at Versailles in 1743, these two last pieces were admired by Louis XV and the Court. On 3 December 1744, the set of seven tapestries was finally delivered to the Garde Meuble. It was intended, the honour was not slight, to decorate the apartments of the Infanta Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain whose marriage to the young Dauphin Louis-Ferdinand had been fixed for the following year (it took place on 23 February 1745). Apparently it was thought that the theme of Esther the biblical heroine and wife of a foreign sovereign was appropriate for the apartments of the Spanish Dauphine. As early as the month of March, the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel informed de Troy that her grand cabinet was decorated with the “Esther tapestry set” specifying however that “for lack of two small or one large piece, we have not been able to decorate the end of the room”. This difficulty led immediately to the Banquet episode being woven a second time in two parts (they were delivered to the Garde-Meuble on 30 December 1746) to garnish the panels on each side of the bed of the Dauphine who would hardly enjoy them (she died on 22 July 1746 and the decoration was installed for the new Dauphine Maria Josepha of Saxony). The appearance of the set’s remarkable border, which imitated a richly sculpted wooden frame, should be mentioned. Conceived in 1738 by the ornamentalist Pierre Josse-Perrot and used in the later weavings until 1768, it tended to reinforce the resolutely painterly appearance of the tapestry set which, in this regard, pushed the art of tapestry as far as its ultimate mimetic possibilities. With the exception of Mor’decai's Disdain which had been removed earlier, the “editio princeps” of the story of Esther (from then on in nine pieces) remained at Versailles until the Revolution. Of the eight surviving tapestries, four are at the chateau of Compiègne and four belong today to the Mobilier National. No less than seven tapestry sets reputed to be complete (one of them in fact only had six tapestries) would be produced officially at the Gobelins up to 1772. Literature: 1- The Œuvres mêlées of an emulator of Racine, the Abbé Augustin NADAL thus include an Esther. Divertissement spiritual which is exactly contemporary with Jean François de Troy’s cycle since it was performed in 1735 and published in Paris three years later. 2-Le Siècle de Louis XIV, 1751, 1785 ed., p. 96-97 for French ed. 3- Lemoyne and de Troy had been obliged to share the First Prize in the competition organised in 1727 between the most prominent history painters of the Académie Royale. 4- Mémoires…, pub. L. DUSSIEUX et al., 1854, II, p.265. 5-The fact that de Troy, at the risk of falling out with his colleagues, did not hesitate to make use of prices in order to convince the new directeur des Bâtiments Philibert Orry, is confirmed by Mariette who adds tersely “it caused much shouting” (pub. 1851-1860, II, p. 103). 6- Abrégé de la vie des plus fameux peintres…, ed. 1762, IV, p. 368-369 20 Early comments on the painter are inclined to present him as a kind of “pure painter”, doing without the medium of drawing, a few intermediary studies between the Esther sketches and the large cartoons at the Louvre nevertheless show that de Troy used red chalk (see in the catalogue, the notice for the Meal of Esther and Ahasuerus under the entry drawing) to change one or other figure. 7-C. GASTINEL-COURAL (cat. exp. PARIS, 1985, p. 9-13) as well as the article by J. VITTET, exh. cat. LA ROCHE-GUYON, 2001, p. 51-55. 8-The Hermitage in St. Petersburg conserves five tapestries of these two royal gifts whose provenance still awaits elucidation (as far as we are aware). In 1766, the Grand Marshal of Russia, Count Razumovski (or Razamowski), acquired the Fainting and the Banquet extracted from the sixth weaving (J. VITTET, 2001, p. 53). 9- Lettres écrites de Suisse, d’Italie…,quoted by J. VITTET, op. cit., p. 54. 10-The tapestry set remained in the hands of a branch of the Hapsburg-Lorraine family until 1933 (ibid. P. 54). 11-Quoted by Chr. LERIBAULT, 2002, p. 97, note 269. 12-Y. CANTAREL-BESSON, 1992, p. 241. Catalogue The Esther at her Toilet Oil on canvas, 57 x 51 cm Provenance: Painted in 1736 at the same time as the six other modelli of the Story of Esther intended to be presented, for approval, to the direction des Bâtiments du Roi; perhaps identifiable among a lot of sketches by Jean-François de Troy in the post mortem inventory of the amateur, historian and critic Claude-Henri Watelet (1718-1786) drawn up on 13 January 1786 and following days (A.N. T 978, n° 30) then in the sale of the property of the deceased, Paris, 12 June 1786, n° 33; Paris, François Marcille Collection (who owned a series of six sketches from which the Triumph of Mor’decai was missing, see infra); Paris, Marcille Sale, Hôtel Drouot, 12-13 January 1857, n° 36; Asnières, Mme de Chavanne de Palmassy ( ?) collection; Paris, Galerie Cailleux; Paris, Humbert de Wendel collection (acquired from the Galerie Cailleux in 1928); by inheritance in the same family; Paris, Sotheby’s, 23 June 2011, n° 61. In order not to add unnecessarily to the technical commentary on each work, the catalogue raisonné by Chr. Leribault which contains a substantial bibliography on the series should be referred to. The other bibliographical references only concern the publications and exhibitions to have appeared and been presented more recently. Bibliography and Exhibitions: Chr. LERIBAULT, 2002, n° P. 247 (repr.); E. LIMARDO DATURI, 2004, p. 28; Exh. cat. NANTES, 2011, p. 138, n° 34, referred to in note 1; Sotheby’s catalogue, Tableaux anciens et du XIXe siècle, 23 June 2011, n° 61 (repr.). Related Works: Tapestry cartoon: The cartoon (oil on canvas, 329 x 320 cm), the third made by the artist in Paris after the sketches had been approved by the direction des Bâtiments, is in the Louvre (Inv. 8315). It previously bore the painter’s signature and the date 1738 (inscriptions which are found on the tapestries). The royal administration paid 1600 livres for it on 21 June 1738 and it was exhibited at the Salon in the year of its creation. Summary Biography 1679 (27 January): Baptism in Paris (Parish of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet) of Jean-François de Troy, son of the painter François de Troy and Jeanne Cotelle, sister of the painter Jean II Cotelle. 1696-1698: Studies (apparently rather turbulent) at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. 1698-1708: First trip to Italy. Is obliged to leave Rome in January 1711 after a tempestuous affair (a duel?), de Troy extends the traditional Roman experience as a pensionnaire at the Académie de France by also visiting Tuscany where he stays for a long time, Venice (his art in face has a strongly Venetian character) and Genoa. 1708: De Troy (whose father had been elected Director of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on 7 July) is agréé and immediately received at the Académie with Apollo and Diana Piercing with their Arrows the Children of Niobe (Montpellier, Musée Fabre) on 28 July. 1710: First royal commission, paid for on 10 May (a sketch representing “the Promotion of the Order of the Holy Spirit” for the tapestry series of the History of the King). 1716: Jean-François de Troy is elected Assistant Professor at the Academy. 1720: He is appointed Professor. 1723: The artist creates the double portrait of Louis XV...

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Early 18th Century French Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Wool, Silk

Dream Time Embroidered Wall Tapestry
Dream Time Embroidered Wall Tapestry

Dream Time Embroidered Wall Tapestry

Located in Brooklyn, NY

The watchful dream creature takes flight. Soaring through a world stitched from pattern and play. An abstract owl glides over a checkerboard, basket-woven from antique silk sarees...

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2010s Indian Silk Wall Decorations

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2nd Half of the 18th Century Scroll Painting on Silk by Maruyama Okyo
2nd Half of the 18th Century Scroll Painting on Silk by Maruyama Okyo

2nd Half of the 18th Century Scroll Painting on Silk by Maruyama Okyo

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

2nd Half of the 18th century Scroll Painting on Silk by Maruyama Okyo now Framed, Japanese. Pine in Snow. Signed along lower left & with artist's seal in red. Acquired in 1967 in Nik...

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Late 18th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Antique Italian Renaissance Silk Brocade Fragments Florence Mid-16th Century
Antique Italian Renaissance Silk Brocade Fragments Florence Mid-16th Century

Antique Italian Renaissance Silk Brocade Fragments Florence Mid-16th Century

Located in Doha, QA

An exquisite and very rare 16th century renaissance Silk brocade fragments mounted and artistically displayed in the Glas case on the antique linen. Both fragments are greatly preserved and originated by its design from famous Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The ornaments contain flowers, jaguars, birds and Fleur De Lis- the symbol of royalty. The colours remain vibrant and parts of golden embroidery/ threads are in very good condition considering the age. Both fabric...

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16th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Gold

1960' s Indian Mid Century Hand Stitched Tapestry Wall Hanging
1960' s Indian Mid Century Hand Stitched Tapestry Wall Hanging

1960' s Indian Mid Century Hand Stitched Tapestry Wall Hanging

Located in Opa Locka, FL

1960's Hand Stitched Large Tapestry. This is a very decorative piece. Please look closely at the pictures as they tell the best story. Very good clean condition.

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1960s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Silk Wall Decorations

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French Greenery Tapestry Aubusson 18th century - 2m67Hx1m97L - N° 1386
French Greenery Tapestry Aubusson 18th century - 2m67Hx1m97L - N° 1386

French Greenery Tapestry Aubusson 18th century - 2m67Hx1m97L - N° 1386

A stone's throw from the Eiffel Tower We are a family business specializing in the purchase, sale and expertise of old, modern and contemporary tapestries, rugs, kilims and textiles....

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1750s French Aubusson Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Wool, Silk

Antique Distressed Chinese Panel Embroidery
Antique Distressed Chinese Panel Embroidery

Antique Distressed Chinese Panel Embroidery

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Very beautiful late 19th century Chinese embroidery with Chinese inscription and design and beautiful natural colors, entirely hand embroidered with silk and inscription with golden,...

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Late 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Silk

RugsOnNet Antique Flemish Baroque Mythological Tapestry: The Triumph of Fidelity
RugsOnNet Antique Flemish Baroque Mythological Tapestry: The Triumph of Fidelity

RugsOnNet Antique Flemish Baroque Mythological Tapestry: The Triumph of Fidelity

By Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens

Located in New York, NY

17th Century Flemish Baroque Tapestry: “The Triumph of Fidelity” A monumental achievement of the seventeenth-century Flemish Baroque, this Brussels-produced tapestry brings the epic...

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Mid-17th Century Belgian Baroque Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Wool, Silk

Large Asian Oil on Silk Paintings by Chelsea House, Floral, Bird, Botanical S/2
Large Asian Oil on Silk Paintings by Chelsea House, Floral, Bird, Botanical S/2

Large Asian Oil on Silk Paintings by Chelsea House, Floral, Bird, Botanical S/2

By Chelsea House

Located in Kennesaw, GA

I love the vibrant colors! This is a set of large scale oil paintings hand done on silk by Chelsea House. They are Asian inspired with their birds on branches surrounded by fruit and...

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Late 20th Century American Chinese Export Silk Wall Decorations

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Silk, Giltwood, Paint

Japanese Contemporary Orange Black Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen, 3
Japanese Contemporary Orange Black Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen, 3

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Located in Takarazuka, JP

Extraordinary Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted raised silk and brocade kimono in black, orange and gold on textured crea...

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21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Silk Wall Decorations

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Gold

Bobyrug’s Beautiful Antique French Needlepoint Round Tapestry
Bobyrug’s Beautiful Antique French Needlepoint Round Tapestry

Bobyrug’s Beautiful Antique French Needlepoint Round Tapestry

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Nice antique French tapestry with beautiful design and nice colors, entirely hand embroidered with needlepoint method with wool and silk, assembled on a wooden panel. ✨✨✨ "Experienc...

Category

Late 19th Century French Aubusson Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Wool, Silk

Antique French Aubusson Tapestry, Greenery 19th century - W1m84xH2m20 - N° 1465
Antique French Aubusson Tapestry, Greenery 19th century - W1m84xH2m20 - N° 1465

Antique French Aubusson Tapestry, Greenery 19th century - W1m84xH2m20 - N° 1465

Located in Paris, FR

This Tapestry has been Cleaned by our artisan workshop Epoch: 19th century Style: Greenery Condition: Perfect condition (Revised by our artisan workshop) Material: Wool Width: 184 cm...

Category

19th Century French Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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Wool, Silk

The Three Musicians in the taste Lancret Taste, French Tapestry 19th - N 1479
The Three Musicians in the taste Lancret Taste, French Tapestry 19th - N 1479

The Three Musicians in the taste Lancret Taste, French Tapestry 19th - N 1479

By Aubusson Manufacture

Located in Paris, FR

This tapestry has been cleaned, checked and doubled in our artisan workshop In the taste Nicolas Lancret Epoque: 19th century Condition: Perfect condition Material: Wool & Silk Width...

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19th Century French French Provincial Antique Silk Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Silk

Contemporary Hand-Embroidered Ottoman Design Wall Hanging
Contemporary Hand-Embroidered Ottoman Design Wall Hanging

Contemporary Hand-Embroidered Ottoman Design Wall Hanging

By Textile Cultures

Located in 中央区, JP

This exceptional hand-embroidered textile is inspired by the rich tradition of Ottoman embroidery from the 16th to 19th centuries, reimagined for the present. Created as a unique cen...

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2010s Armenian Islamic Silk Wall Decorations

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Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Silk and Cotton Turkish Kayseri Rug
Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Silk and Cotton Turkish Kayseri Rug

Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Silk and Cotton Turkish Kayseri Rug

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Nice mid century silk Turkish rug with beautiful mihrab design and nice light colors, entirely and finely hand knotted with silk and cotton on ...

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1970s Turkish Tabriz Vintage Silk Wall Decorations

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Cotton, Silk

Wonderful antique silk and golden metal Chinese rich Embroidery
Wonderful antique silk and golden metal Chinese rich Embroidery

Wonderful antique silk and golden metal Chinese rich Embroidery

Located in Saint Ouen, FR

Very beautiful and antique Chinese embroidery with beautiful design with birds, dogs, symbols and scriptures, and with nice natural colours with a red brown background, entirely hand...

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19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Antique Silk Wall Decorations

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