One has to ask, is it wrong of me to have $10,000 in lush down-filled antique tapestry cushions on my living room sofa? Or similarly, there on the window seat and atop the Sferra bedspread on my bed? - You get the idea. And I've still been keep these panels, too. I'm clearing out collected c.1600-1800s French tapestries of 30 years' serious collecting. I pretty much kept the best ones for myself. This is the stash of a very committed antiques dealer. I'm at that stage of life when the word, "downsizing" begins to take on meaning. I realize I will not find the perfect way to put this incredible antique French Aubusson woven tapestry to use. Nope, no more entire home redecorating that will incorporate this panel as a headboard, or a massive bolster pillow. Not going to frame it and hang in in my hunting lodge. This is a magnificent huge Aubusson panel that once graced the back of a very large French canapé, sofa. I have the panel that was upholstery for the seat, too (see it in the final images). I'm offering them separately. This one is a country scene, children and goats, beautiful floral border. The other larger panel (sold separately) is hunt themed, hounds chasing down a large stag. The wool and silk yarns used are delicate in size and so tightly woven, it's a true work of art. Loom arts from the Aubusson factories, long famed in France and throughout the world for their splendor. The panel's background color was once mustard. I've shown the backside so you can see the original yarns. The panel needs a cleaning, though it has no odor, it does have dust of a century, perhaps. I have done nothing to try to clean it. I always intended to use just that rectangular part which isn't darkened so much as the mustard section. That rectangle is 55.5" x 19". The overall panel just as you see it in our photos is 66" x 26" largest, with some cutaways where it was necessary to fit to the large sofa. You'll know the perfect way to put it to use. Centuries old, finest quality - a museum panel!
Very good condition for age and type. A nod to need of a cleaning, the overall tapestry panel is strong, worthy of most any project - pillows, a topper for a long bench - bolsters. A few spots you'll put time into with a needle and heavy thread, to close smallish openings in the warp. or fine as it is for framing and hanging, instead. It's a tough one to photograph, so I've shown you the overall panels and then close-ups of the figures. One of my favorite panels of my "stash". It has been stored rolled, archival tissue and cotton. No weakened spots that represent folds. Before I bought it in Paris, it had been on the old furniture it was made for. For shipment, it will be rolled and shipped in a tube for best protection. You might want the other panel. I'm listing them separate since the other panel has a scene with hounds chasing down a large stag, and is versatile of theme apart from this one with a country pastoral scene with 4 people and several goats, a butter churn - a French Romantic image hailing from late 1700s - the time of Boucher, Fragonard, etc.. Both are fabulous!
