Entirely professionally restored, not a flaw to note, this is a stunningly fine and very large tapestry panel, 12.25 feet long and over 7.5 feet tall, with life-size or larger figures of a queen with her servants, and a soldier entering from left with his sword drawn high, in an obvious assassination attempt. A faithful hound in bottom right corner turns away and looks back at the scene with a bone in his mouth - symbolic of a paid breach of loyalty among the Queens people. While it's late 1500s to 1600s in age, the story of the attempt on the life of Queen Margaret of Anjoy, Queen consort of King Henry VI. The story would be mid to late 1400s, and her attacker was 3rd Duke of York, Richard Plantagenist. Stories such as this one played out politically on these wall hangings, depending upon who had commissioned them. The French Queen, governing both England and France as her husband was incapable of doing so, much unrest. I'm unsure if I'm right. Also, in all honesty, I (also you) can't be positive if this is a French Aubusson work of tapestry art, or Flemish verdure. Acquired through a French dealer friend who sold it for a lifelong and well-respected Belgian antiques dealer whose favorite piece was this tapestry, and who only parted with it due to old age and downsizing of living space. He thought it Aubusson. The blue wode dye is still just stunning - surprisingly little fading to the wool yarns. As noted, entirely intact, no weak or open spots, museum worthy with a heavy and recent (few decades) linen backing which has stitches through at intervals to also support and hold the restored large and heavy panel. A full length of 2" Velcro up top makes for easy hanging without lots of hardware installation if you prefer.
Very good to excellent - as fine as one can find after 500 years. There are no weak spots, no open weave, the linen backing is quite recent (50 years or less) and is anchor-stitched through to tapestry at intervals, as is done professionally, to help support the weight of the panel. All wool and silk yarns, hand sheered and spun, dyed, and woven. This would have taken several people a few years to complete. Timeless beauty, available for your own chateau, home, studio. Oh, and no odor! That's vitally important. Very very slight scent of wool, but not a bit of mildew or dust or smoke - it's obviously been cleaned in the professional restoration process.
A note: We were on 1stdibs in it's early opening days, then pulled back. They're still trying to get us to sell on their site. We like offering this to you at half the price of anything comparable to this you might find there. We love our direct customers, and we aren't priced for a designer to shop and bill $100k to the client, while only paying $50k. I have another coming in, and also a very large panel suitable to cut into smaller sections for any decorating - throw pillows, or upholstery, etc., which I'll be adding to our website. I've collected these fine art historical tapestries for decades. I love them all!
