The rich elegance of centuries old French tapestries have always drawn me, pulled me through museums, and chateau, palaces and exhibitions. They often represent the work of many people, and many years. Tapestries were made on warp, weaving intricate images with natural dyed wools and silks, then were hung as (often) massive wall hangings that both told triumphant or colloquial stories and kept out the drafts of those stone walls. Basically, insulation that doubled as praise of the King or Queen, or the Nobility's conquests, or biblical scenes incorporating the Chateau's owner, family. The remnants are sought after, and I've collected them for 40 years. Some have made their way into pillow tops. The one you see here is so rich in color and appeal, a perfect salvage of greenery or foliage, "verdure". Its colors have not faded in the 200-300 years since the Master weavers of Aubusson or Beauvais or Flemish ateliers worked it. Full measurements noted on the photos.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type, this panel is exceptionally well preserved and is bordered in compliments of antique French passementerie, metallic trim top and bottom and silk ball-fringed ornamental trim on ends. Backing is a nice vintage velvet in bright lemon color which compliments and pulls the colors in the woven fragment. I don't see any holes or splits - a really nice fragment. The pillow fill is not down, has a bit more firmness to it. Would be a good back support pillow, but I think these are always best for the decor, and suggest they not be routinely used other than for the beauty and history, elegance.
