A Flemish Pastoral Tapestry, Lille, workshop of Willem Werniers, from `Scenes of Country Life' circa 1730

woven depicting `Card Players', seated outside an Inn, in a landscape setting, within an elaborate four-sided border with groupings of farming implements, fruit, vegetables and flowers on a brown ground, the blue selvedge with workshop mark, G. Werniers

This squarish format tapestry (and not rectangular as appears in the catalogue and on-line image), has linen lining and Velcro attached across the top for hanging purposes.This is a very finely woven tapestry, allowing for great detail, across the tapestry composition. The borders are exuberant and filled with flowers, foliage in swags, baskets, implements and birds. Charming detailing to the faces of all the figures, there is attention to detail from the mussel shells in the foreground, the playing cards in the centre, and the details in the far distance. The tapestry has areas of weakness, especially to the areas where the browns have oxidised. This is typical of this colour (brown) and age of the dye, and shows exposed warp threads. In some areas where brown is more stable, just specks of the white support warps are visible. There are also weak areas of the light highlight areas, such as the ruff on the central figure of the lady, and to areas of other motifs, such as the trumpets. In these scattered areas with exposed warp threads there are consolidation stitches (visible as vertical support stitches sewn across the exposed support warp threads). Areas for example include the feather on the red cap of central figure, the areas of netting within the borders, and the area above the flying mallard duck in the lower right section of the border, and to the sheep dog in the middle distance on the right of the composition. There are some areas of rewoven repair, in the border, and in areas of the main composition, for example along the large horizontal branch coming off the tree trunk up the left side. Small hole in bottom left hand border. The weaver's mark in the lower selvedge is inset into a later blue surrounding selvedge, but the mark is comparable with known period marks. The sky and background, are stable. The overall appearance of this tapestry is of very fine weave and detail, with balanced colour and composition. In professionally `conserved' condition. Striking piece from well known series.
"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."

For comprehensive discussion of five tapestries from this series within the same detailed border, and including a panel of the same subject and composition as the present piece, see Nello Forti Grazzini, Il Patrimonio Artistico del Quirinale, Rome, 1994, Vol.II, pp.356-370.

See catalogue note at Sothebys.com