Armorial tapestry, 17th-century Flanders

- This wool and silk heraldic tapestry features a felted curtain in its central field, revealing a crowned eagle with outstretched wings perched on a coat of arms. The blazon's supports are coiled irons in which a long ribbon wraps around the shield. The shield is either quartered or per bend in chief. The two cantons of the chief are furnished with a rose on a blue background and three fleurs-de-lys.

- This weave features a rich border, the upper one adorned with a central medallion depicting the Sun-Earth-Moon system in a semi-sphere of stars, with a personified sun. It is surrounded by the motto "NESCIT LABI VIRTVS NISI" and "VIRTVTE SVPERETVR". On either side of the medallion are cartouches featuring birds of varying depths. In the corners are female allegories: Justice on the left, holding a scepter and scales, and Strength in the right-hand corner, accompanied by a column evoking the hero Samson. The side borders are embellished with caryatids carrying baskets of flowers.

- This element of heraldic tapestry comes from a "portière" weave twice as large. This tapestry, whose sole decoration was a representation of the coat of arms, explicitly praised the glories of its patron and his family. While the exact identity of the commissioner remains to be determined, its place of production is attributed to a 17th-century Flemish workshop, in view of the fineness of the weave (9 threads per cm), the quality of execution and the stylistic analysis.

-Dimensions: Height: 206 cm Length: 326.5 cm
As is, lined, with fastening system for easy hanging.

Ref: E40KJNC2NU