A Flemish Armorial large leaf verdure tapestry late 16th century

woven with exuberant large leaves, flowers, fruit and insects, within a four-sided border with central stem with clasps and bow-tied ribbon, with interspersed groups of flowers and fruit, against a banded yellow and red ground, each corner with the coat-of-arms of Families of Ubaldini of Florence impaling those of Ridolfi of Florence, within a blue outer selvedge

Colours are much more defined and rich in reality. They are washed out in comparison in the catalogue image. The greens are stronger and more attractive and less blue in reality. Some plum colours which are evident on back, have faded to become paler tones, for example the flowers in group above the coat of arms in the lower right corner. Some old small repairs, to oranges and reds. Tapestry retains colour variation to the yellows. There are some repairs and some reweaving in areas to the main field and to the ground between the large leaves, which is commensurate for the original dark colours (brown) used for the ground. Different colours have been used in the ground for repairs which are visible in the photograph. Some small areas, to light areas, where warps visible, which need some attention. Small split between colour changes in flower centre right side, which can easily be repaired. Overall in good and stable condition. Tapestry has linen lining. Good examples of early weaving technique and hachure. Versatile size. Unusual and exuberant original border. Charming details such as the fruit and flower groups and small insects. Highly decorative tapestry in stable condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Literature

For details pertaining to the coat-of-arms see J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Vol. II, pg.568 & 954.

This style of verdure with the main field being the large leaves evolved between 1540 and 1560. A few tapestries of this group retain their city marks of either Enghien, Oudenaarde or Geraardsbergen (Grammont). The towns are close to each other and it is therefore not surprising that there are similarities in the tapestries woven in the separate cities.

Candace Adelson, European Tapestry in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1994, pp.118-121, illustrates and discusses a large leaf fragment with birds and an example from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, which unlike the Minneapolis example has a full four-sided border, on a banded ground, both panels are dated 1540-1550, and considered to be Oudenaarde or Geraardsbergen (Grammont).

Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestries, London, 1999, pp.168-176 for discussion of Enghien Verdure tapestries, and an Armorial tapestry with bold border, with two marks for unidentified Enghien workshops, commissioned by Wolf Haller von Hallerstein, illustrated, pg. 169.

Ebeltje Hartkamp-Jonxis and Hillie Smith, European Tapestries in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2004, pp.76-79, cat. 21a & b, discussses and illustrates two Verdure tapestries with the Arms of Emperor Charles V, which were woven in Brussels, by Willem de Pannemaker, circa 1540-155, and show the style with the stem border and fruiting and flowering groups on yellow and red banded ground, and exuberant, albeit more finely woven, large leaf and floral ground. For consideration the Rijksmuseum collection has another `Giant-leaf' Verdure fragment, with flowers, fruit, birds and butterflies, of similar boldness of style and colour to the presently offered panel, pp.90-91, cat. 26.   

Edith Appleton Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries in the Metropolitan Museum, 1985, Vol. I, pp.177-179, figs.24a-24b., for discussion and illustrations of two fragments of Verdures with giant leaves, dated to 1550-1600, with the top and bottom borders visible with banded grounds, and woven with small and large birds on the feuilles-de-choux ground, with one bearing the Grammont mark in the selvedge.

For comparable pieces at auction with similar border types to the present tapestry see Christie's, London, 16^th November 2000, lot 109, and Sotheby's Florence, 23rd May 1988, lot 544. Another similar panel, Grammont or Enghien, circa 1550, (315cm. by 323cm) with very similar bow tied stem and floral border on banded yellow and red ground, was published in Apollo, June 1978, which is like a panel at Leeds Castle, Kent.