JAN-FRANS VAN DER BORCHT (D. 1774), AFTER THE CARTOON PAINTER 'D.H.' (POSSIBLY MAXIMILIAN DE HAASE OR NICOLAS DE HAEN), BRUSSELS, THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

Details

A FLEMISH ALLEGORICAL TAPESTRY FROM THE CONTINENTS
JAN-FRANS VAN DER BORCHT (D. 1774), AFTER THE CARTOON PAINTER 'D.H.' (POSSIBLY MAXIMILIAN DE HAASE OR NICOLAS DE HAEN), BRUSSELS, THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY
Woven in silks and wools, depicting 'The Meeting of the Continents' from the series 'The Continents', with figures representing the continents seated around a table with various people serving and preparing food, set beneath trees and with a fountain to the right and building beyond, within a scrolling foliate border with cartouches of flowers and two busts in profile to the centre of the top, within a later blue outer guard border, reduced in size and reweaving particularly to the silks and the border, the border possibly associated
10 ft. (305 cm.) high; 9 ft. 3 in. (282 cm.) wide

Provenance

Baroness Aida Nora Von Dem Bussche-Streithorst.
Anonymous sale; Christie’s, New York, 28 September 2006, lot 169 ($21,600 incl. premium).

Special notice

Specified lots are being stored at Crozier Park Royal (details below) or will be removed from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London, SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. If the lot has been transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

THE SERIES:
The Continents tapestry series consists of five panels, including Europe, Africa, Asia, America and a panel illustrating the four Continents together (Although the Dutch landed in 1616 and the British in 1688, Australia had not really been explored until after James Cook's voyage in 1770). This version of the subject seems to have solely been woven by the van der Borcht family.

The presence of the signature of Jasper on one of the sets indicates that it was probably designed before 1742 (D. Heinz, Europäische Tapisseriekunst des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Vienna, 1995, p. 209). It is believed that there were approximately nine sets made, but the only one to survive intact is in the Austrian State Collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

THE WEAVER:
Jan Frans van der Borcht (d. 1774) belonged to a large and famous dynasty of weavers and received his privileges in 1726. He initially worked with his father Jasper (d. 1742) and later with his younger brother Pieter (d. 1763).

THE DESIGNER:
The initials 'D.H.', which can be found on some of the tapestries are generally believed to belong to Maximilian de Hase (d. 1787), nephew of the famous tapestry designer Jan van Orely, although his normal pictorial style is different. Several series can be attributed to him, for instance the Famous Women, Life of Christ and The Story of Psyche. However, according to the most recent suggestions, the designs for the set should be attributed to Nicolas de Haen, a pupil of Jacques van Helmont, who became master in 1725.

COMPARABLE TAPESTRIES:
A tapestry from this series by Jan Frans van der Borcht and depicting America, from the Mayorcas Collection, was sold, Christie's London, 12 February 1999, lot 480 (£188,500).

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