A FLEMISH 'GAME PARK' TAPESTRY, PROBABLY OUDENAARDE, LATE 16TH CENTURY |

woven with various figures in a landscape setting, at leisure or hunting, with distant château, lake and gardens, within a deep four-sided compartmentalised border incorporating allegorical figures, with princeps motif and unidentified weaver's mark in lower right selvedge

Overall measurements: 388cm across the top, 391cm across the bottom, 340cm left side, 333cm right side Tapestry is lined with linen backing and with Velcro attached across the top edge for hanging purposes. The outer vertical edges have been repaired and rewoven. The outer blue selvedge is later on all sides. There are some areas of reweaving, and repair. For example small areas of rewoven light highlights, and some are light cream and others are in pale terracotta. For example area of repair to leg of male figure in bottom right hand corner, and the area edging the pond, lower left corner. The inner edge of the main border is later terracotta repair (where original darker browns would have been before they oxidised and were replaced), and the faces have some later highlights to add definition to their eyes and mouths. Some of the dark blues have been rewoven, for example the cuirass on the figure with the shield, placed above the pond in bottom left corner. There are some small repairs in the green foliage in the border and main panel. In the centre of tapestry, the trunk of the central tree has reweaving, and there is a small section of foliage to the left of this tree trunk that has two dark marks (barely noticeable unless on close inspection). Tapestry has been professionally restored and cleaned in France. The Chevalier Conservation Label is on the reverse of the lining and dated - June 2012. Attractive tapestry. Evocative of the period and emphasising the advantage of leisure time and pursuits possible. The overall composition is an extension of the inner space into the landscape.
"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 examples of comparable late 16th century Flemish game park tapestries, depicting landscapes filled with various groupings of people at leisure, and various hunting scenes, all within elaborate compartmentalised figural and foliate filled borders, see I. De Meuter, Tapisseries d'Audenarde du XVI au XVIII Siècle, 1999, pp. 142-147. For auction comparables in similar border types, see Sotheby's, London, 13 April 2011, lot 11, and Christie's, London, 7 December 2016, lot 53 (Provenance: The Vigo Sternberg Collection, Sotheby's, London, 29 February 1996, lot 42).