'Fish Quay', A Flemish Teniers tapestry, Brussels, workshop of Pieter and Frans Van der Borght late 18th century

woven within a four-sided gold and red frame pattern border

Colour in comparison to the printed catalogue is far more attractive in reality. It is not as washed out in areas as in the photograph and the bright colours are not as strident. It has balanced colour and is far more appealing in appearance in reality. Overall measurements: 394cm across the top, 389cm across the bottom, 264cm along the left side, 266cm along the right side. This tapestry has been lined and has Velcro across the top for hanging. The right hand border is integral to the main tapestry. The left hand border is added and has a vertical join on the far left of both the upper and lower borders. There is a horizontal join towards the top of the left border. There are some minor repairs (as different colours) for example in roof on far left side, to the plinth base supporting obelisk, to the left of the pipe and to the left of the head of the figure with the mule, also to the mast of the boat, the boat and within the foliage in foreground in far right corner. There are also some rewoven highlights in light colour, visible as white in appearance, for example to hat and clothing of figures on the left, to the stockings of the standing man on the right, and to the corner of the blue cloak of figure kneeling over basket, and to fish in foreground. Some other minor highlights in white on far right to the tip of the spear and to the edge of the boat. The tapestry is in good overall and stable condition and has a balanced composition and colour. It is a very decorative tapestry. It has some beautiful detailing and colouration especially to the figures. For detailed photographs please contact stephanie.douglas@sothebys.com
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See H. C. Marillier, Handbook to the Teniers Tapestries, London, 1932, pg. 49, pl.13a, for a weaving of this second version of the `Fish Market', attributed to P and J-F van der Borght, within a frame pattern border, which shows horizontal borders with central group of trophies and a cabochon with extend into the tapestry scene, with distinctive vertical borders centred by hanging lamp motifs and coronets. Several tapestries from this series were woven for the Imperial Collection in Vienna, and a set of three tapestries were recorded as sold from Château de Vigny, 5^th June 1919, Paris, with the same borders and signature of F. van der Borght.

See also A. Cavallo, Tapestries of Europe and Colonial Peru in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1967, Vol. I, pp.159-161, Vol II, pl. 51., for another virtually identical fragmentary tapestry, catalogued as the `Fish Market', Flemish, 1700-1750, depicting the central section of this composition, extending in width to include the small boy underneath the obelisk to the left and the standing figure and half the ship to the far right (approximately 314 by 256cm).

For a weaving of this subject, see Sotheby’s, London, 28^th May 2009, lot 56, lacking a border. Another weaving of this composition, only slightly wider and higher (approximately 432 by 300cm) than the offered panel, within a narrow scrolling leaf and stem border, see Bonham's, London, 22^nd November 2005, lot 202, with provenance: by repute from Paris in 1920's, to house in Buenos Aires which became the British Embassy. Tapestry having been removed in 2002/3 when building refurbished.  Guy Delmarcel, Flemish Tapestries, London, 1999, pp352-361, pl.13.15, discusses the Flemish `Teniers' tapestries, and illustrates a small weaving of this subject (approx. 295 x 221cm), depicting the central main grouping, within the same narrow scrolling leaf border, dated post 1750, the selvedge with the Brussels town mark, and signed Leyniers.