'Winter', A French Louis XIV Seasons Tapestry, Aubusson, workshop of Michel Vergne 18th century

woven with the season of Winter represented by a pagan divinity and depicting Vulcan (personifying fire), in his forge making a set of armour at the request of Venus, for her son Aeneas, with a small figure symbolic of Cupid looking on, in a landscape setting, within a four-sided strapwork and foliate border, the blue outer selvedge with the partial manufactory mark, ... MR.DAUB.....

The tapestry has an old hessian lining on the reverse, which is too tight and it is recommended that it is re-lined so that fits properly and supports correctly. There are repairs and reweaving to areas of the brown ground in the border and to areas of dark and lighter browns in the foreground. There are some areas of weakness and repair to the light areas, for example to the background. There are some repaired joins in the top left corner, and centre of lower border, 1/2 ay up left border and 1/4 way up the right border. There is some minor tinting, visible to bricks in lower left corner, and some surface marks (possible mould) in the lower right corner. There are new highlights to the facial features, for examples eyes. Repairs and reweaving all around the outer blue selvedge. Would benefit from some attention. Decorative tapestry. For all sales which take place on or after 1 February 2015, please note that the rate of buyer's premium for each lot (charged as a percentage of the hammer price achieved for that lot) has been revised and shall be calculated at the thresholds set out below: Buyer's premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including £100,000; Buyer's premium is 20% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £100, 000 up to and including £1,800,000; Buyer's premium is 12% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £1,800,000. As stated above, the revised thresholds are effective as of 1 February 2015.
"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 a set of the Four Seasons represented by the appropriate divinities of Flora/Venus for Spring, Ceres for Summer, Bacchus for Autumn (Collection du Conseil National de Monaco), see D & P. Chevalier, and P.F Bertrand, Les Tapisseries d’Aubusson et de Felletin, Lausanne, 1988, pp.75-77. The comparable panel of Winter is virtually identical with regard to the figural group, although in this seasonal panel the background is a more wintry landscape setting, depicting a tree without leaves. The panel of Autumn is signed Michel Vergne, MRD (Manufacture Royale d'Aubusson).