A Flemish Biblical Tapestry, Oudenaarde mid 16th Century

woven with large figures of a standing female in attendance of a seated female in architectural marble seat niche with columns behind holding up a blue textile swag, with a young man standing behind and holding on to one column behind and further figures of a man and woman onlooking, from behind the niche, with landscape extending into the background, within an exuberant four-sided border woven with exotic fruit, foliate motifs, a strapwork motif with cherub mask and pendant beads, vases in each lower corner with fruit and blue-bells, and each top corner with unusual motif of two shields with lion masks and pendant fruit, on a pale brown ground with narrow banded shaded yellow edges, with a blue outer selvedge, with weaver's mark, left corner lower border

For comparable Flemish Biblical tapestries in exuberant floral borders, there are Oudenaarde and Enghien weavings. See De Meuter, Tapisseries d'Audenarde du XVI au XVIII Siècle, Exhibition catalogue, 1999, pp.148-161, for examples of comparable early Oudenaarde Biblical tapestries, and for Enghien example see Guy Delmarcel, Tapisseries Anciennes d'Enghien, Mons, 1980, pp.78-89, no.35-40.

 

 

The tapestry is lined with old hessian and old Velcro which has lost its grip. It is therefore recommended that the tapestry be professionally lined with new Velcro attached across the top for future hanging purposes. The four-sided blue selvedge is largely original with some sections of later rewoven repair. Old moth repairs visible within selvedge. Good colour balance overall with fresh colour palette, albeit faded from original colours, commensurate with age. As expected light coloured areas of weave, such as chemises and collars have lost colour, as have faces. Overall tonally more yellow in hue rather than orange in appearance as in the photograph. Areas of repair in areas. For example see later definiation to centres of eyes in border masks and to main figures. Some areas of repair to hands. Some terracotta repairs in areas, see lower step to marble surround. There is a patch to the centre, below the arm of the central standing male, which is from another part of composition, evidence of leaves, in an area that is clothing. Beautiful areas of early weaving techniques. Very striking border with exuberant details and with the weaver's mark. Tapestry is decorative and balanced in composition and colour. Overall good and stable condition.
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