Armorial Tapestry, Flanders 17th Century

- This heraldic wool and silk tapestry presents in its central field a pretend curtain revealing an eagle with a crowned head and outstretched wings perched on a coat of arms. The supports of this coat of arms are coiled irons in which a long ribbon is wound so as to surround the shield. It is a shield that we guess is either quartered or cut halfway in chief. The two cantons of the head have as furniture a rose on a blue background and three fleur-de-lis.

- This weaving has a rich border, the upper one is decorated in its center with a medallion illustrating the Sun-Earth-Moon system in a half of stars with a personified sun. It is surrounded by a motto "NESCIT LABI VIRTVS NISI" and "VIRTVTE SVPERETVR". On either side of this medallion are cartridges showing birds represented at different depths. In the corners, there are feminine allegories: Justice on the left holding a scepter and a scale and Strength in the right corner accompanied by a column evoking the hero Samson. The side borders are decorated with caryatids carrying baskets of flowers.

- This heraldic tapestry element comes from a twice larger “portière” type weave. This tapestry, of which the representation of the coat of arms constituted the only decoration, explicitly praised the glories of its sponsor and his family. Although the exact identity of the sponsor remains to be clarified, its place of production is attributed, in view of its fineness of weaving (9 threads per cm), quality of execution and stylistic analysis, to a 17th century Flemish workshop.

-Dimensions: Height: 206 cm Length: 326.5 cm

As is, lined, with fixing system for easy hanging.