A FLEMISH ALLEGORICAL, UNICORN AND MILLE-FLEURS, BRUGES OR TOURNAI, LATE 15TH/EARLY 16TH CENTURY |

with various animals and birds, against millefleurs ground, and buildings on horizon, within a narrow floral trail border on blue ground, with corner and central rosette motifs; (reduced in height)

J.P. Asselberghs, Tournai exhibition catalogue, Saint-Louis Art Museum
J.P. Asselberghs, Les tapisseries flamandes aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique. Brussels, 1974, p. 22 et fig.9
P. Bertrand, Millefleurs exhibition catalogue, Galerie Blondel Deroyan, Paris, 2000, fig. 11 et 12
D. Boccara, Les Belles Heures de la Tapisserie, 1971, p. 37
J. Boccara, Ames de laine et de soie, Saint-Rémy-en-l'Eau, 1988, p. 81
F. Joubert, La tapisserie médiévale au musée de Cluny, Paris, 1987, p. 189

The photograph is too dark; the colours are actually much more vivid and preserved. The condition is overall good. As said, it was reduced in height (the bottom certainly cut, and possibly the top). The current borders were certainly made from fragments of the original border which were cut and resewn together (the red roses in squares are probably later additions, as well as the green and yellow braids). There are the usual past restorations and reweaving, especially on the unicorn and in the millefleurs ground. Lined. Highly attractive tapestry which would benefit from a slight cleaning.
"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."

This tapestry belongs to the Mille-fleurs category with very dense vegetation where red and blue dominate and the following tapestries are part of: 
- a closely similar tapestry is kept at the Toledo Museum of Art, donated by Edward Drummond Libbey in 1947
- a tapestry with almost the same decor and matching border, but no architecural elements along the top, published in the book Ames de laine et de soie (Wool and Silk and Souls), p.81 (private colletion)
- an emblazoned Mille-fleurs has in the upper part very similar architectural elements as the above tapestry, much like one in the Château d'Angers, with provenance as Notre Dame des Ardilliers church in Saumur (D. Boccara, op cit., p.37)
- the Saint Louis Art Museum has a heraldic tapestry with an akin decor.