16th Century Verdure Landscape Tapestry from Flanders

A beautiful pair of tapestry fragments, hand-woven in Flanders (now Belgium), circa 1580. At roughly 132 inches (11 feet) long, the fragments were, originally, vertical borders to a very large and brightly colored tapestry. The colors have maintained their vibrancy over the last 400+ years, with deep blue, brown, green, and red accents over a gold and cream background. Although the fragments do not have identical scenes, it is readily apparent that they originated from the same source. At the top of each fragment is a bearded warrior clad in golden armor with a flowing blue cape and green greaves. A shield rests on the ground, supported by the soldier’s left hand, while his right hand lifts a spear into the air. Towards the center of the textile is a pair of musicians, one strumming a lute, while the other plucks a lyre. At the bottom of each tapestry is a single female figure, well-dressed and sitting on a bench with one arm overhead. The remaining areas have been filled with fruit bouquets, architectural elements, and other figurative representations. A more recent navy blue border surrounds the scenes and the backs have been lined with a mauve colored linen. Our hand-woven tapestry borders...

In 1665, Louis XIV gave workshops in Aubusson (France) the royal charter, making them responsible for producing tapestries for the King and nobility. A beautiful example of such an Aubusson tapestry is our verdure bleue wall hanging that depicts four grape harvest...

Fountain and Architecture This narrow silk and wool tapestry fragment dates to the 1600s and is from Brussels. It is depicting a statue of the Greek God, Hermes (Mercury to the Ro...

This is a large, horizontal fragment of a late 17th century Beauvais tapestry. Beauvais tapestry manufacture was one of the most well-known tapestry workshops in France. Beauvais was...