AN ENGLISH (SOHO) TAPESTRY

Details
AN ENGLISH (SOHO) TAPESTRY
CIRCA 1720

Depicting Berainesque arabesques with a central winged figure under a canopy flanked by herms draped with garlands, within a scarlet border, slight reduced
8ft. 6in. x 15ft. 6in. (2m. 44cm. x 4m. 72cm.)

Lot Essay

English arabesques of the eighteenth century fall under two categories; designs where the principal motifs are vases, floral festoons and birds, and designs in which the principal motif is a winged female figure standing under a canopy, surrounded by elaborate foliate scrolls and arabesques. The present lot, which falls under the second category, depicts a winged figure representing Fame. Other examples can be found at Burghley, and at Tockenham Manor, Wilts. For further information see H. Marillier, English Tapestries of the Eighteen Century, London, 1930, which illustrates a virtually identical, yet slightly narrower version of the offered lot.