BOAR HUNT, AN ENGLISH TAPESTRY, FROM THE HUNTERS' CHASE, MORTLAKE 17TH CENTURY |

Sotheby’s Parke Bernet, New York, 2nd December 1977, lot 182

Overall measurements: 297cm across the top, 298cm across the bottom, 249cm along the left side, 251cm along the right side. Tapestry is in very good professionally restored condition. There is some minor oxidisation to the dark brown wefts, see for example the trunk of the tree on the left hand side. This is commensurate with the dye colour and age. The area is stable. There are some areas of later professional woven repairs to areas where browns oxidised, for example to the fur of the boar, and to some of areas of light highlights, in the background. Some areas of stable original silk, There is a patched area in the lower right corner, of later reweaving, as visible in the photograph. It does not detract from the overall appearance. This tapestry has been reduced in size, but this does not detract from the dynamism of the composition. It has a lining backing, with slight areas exposed between vertical panels. The top band has small round metal hoops attached across the top end. It is recommended that Velcro should be attached across the top for hanging purposes in the future. The outer selvedge is later. There are some short dark shadow vertical lines, visible due to lighting from photography and not present in the tapestry. This is an attractive tapestry, in stable condition, with some attractive detailing.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Hunters' Chase series of tapestries were commissioned from the Mortlake tapestry Factory by the community of the Dutch Church in London in 1645, see W.G Thomson, Tapestry Weaving in England, London, p. 89.  Five tapestries of this nine-piece series are based on scenes of the sixteenth-century Brussels tapestries Hunts of Maximilian designed by Bernard van Orley. The Boar Hunt tapestry composition reproduces the design from Bernard van Orley's original drawings representing the month of December.  A complete tapestry within a distinctive architectural frame pattern with satyr and swags border, of The Boar Hunt, circa 1650-1670, showing the figure of horseback, just visible in the offered fragment, and the huntsmen on foot taking up the rear (all to the left of the composition), is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (Inv. T.158-2002). The present fragment has the huntsmen on foot on the right. For a fragment of The Wolf Hunt, without a border, from 'The Hunters' Chase, Mortlake Tapestry Factory (manufacturer), 1640-1650, is also in the V&A Museum, London (Inv. T.145-1984).  The distinctive series of the Hunters' Chase was extremely popular. A few pieces survived from at least eight different sets, most of which were woven later in the century. The nine known subjects of the Hunters’ Chase are found in several collections. For related tapestries from this series see Edith A. Standen, European Post-Medieval Tapestries in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, 1985, no. 125; Wendy Hefford, Tapestry in the Baroque:Threads of Splendor, MMA exh.cat. 2007, p.182, and see Sotheby’s, London 13^th December 2000, lot 70, for a tapestry of the Boar Hunt, Mortlake, with larger dimensions and original border. For additional footnote see online at Sothebys.com