AN AMSTERDAM TABLE TAPESTRY

FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

細節

AN AMSTERDAM TABLE TAPESTRY
FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
The central rectangular field with three clusters of fruit surrounded by ribbon-tied floral swags suspended from an inner frame decorated with bird's heads, the borders with fruiting and floral columns and floral strap-work cartouches to the corners, reduced in length through main field, some losses and areas of re-weaving
9 ft. 6½ in. x 5 ft. 11 in. (291 cm. x 180 cm.)

拍品專文

This tapestry belongs to a small and very distinct subgroup of the table tapestries from the northern Netherlands, a rare art form in itself. The distinctive floral wreaths suspended from ribbons in the central panel and the unusual strapwork decoration of the inner frame as well as the border with its idiosyncratic clasps to the corners is found on two examples that were exhibited at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in 1972 (C.A. Burgers, Geweven Boeket, exhibition catalogue, Rijksmuseum, November 1971 - January 1972, cats. 10 and 11). In either case, however, the tapestry is centered by a scene of Orpheus charming animals. A further tapestry with very similar floral arrangement was acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1927, but incorporates yet another central scene and further cartouches to the border. Despite these differences, it is very probable that the three tapestries and the offered lot were woven in the same workshop or were designed by the same draftsman.

The lack of documentation for the workshops weaving these magnificent tapestries at the time in the Netherlands impedes an attribution to either a specific weaver or a designer.