Lot 315
  • 315

A Medieval Falconry Tapestry Panel, South Netherlands first half 15th century,

Estimate
150,000 - 200,000 GBP
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Description

  • wool
  • Approximately 334cm. high, 440cm. wide; 10ft. 10in., 14ft. 5in.
woven with courtly figures in circa 1420 costume, involved with the training process of the sport of `Hawking - Falconry', depicting a distinctive central enclosure with red rose covered trellis arbour, sheltering two ladies and two gentlemen gathered around a central stone basin containing water and with a rill flowing into the grassy and flowery mead foreground, enclosed by various small trees including the oak, rose, and `turf benches', each corner with a small tree, Linden, Oak and Cherry/Rowan trees flanked by a smaller figure, including three men and one female, all involved with Falconry, and carrying the accoutrements required for the sport, including lures, leashes, hoods and gauntlets, all against a highly stylised mille-fleurs background, incorporating small birds, all against a dark green ground; for a companion piece see the following lot

Provenance

Château de Martinvast, France, 19th century
Thence by descent

Condition

Colour of the tapestry in the photograph is tonally a fairly accurate match. In reality it is softer and not as strident. The variation in green across the panel is original and most likely due to variations in the dye used for the wool used. The left and right edges are neat and not turned under and have no warp threads as fringe. The extraordinary similarity in colour between the front and the reverse is a wonderful factor, with little fading on the front. Some colours barely changing at all, with many of the original subtle colours of pale yellow, peach and delicate greens still visible. Many of the figures faces have the original pale blue of the eyes, blush to cheeks and lips. Some have minor repairs. This tapestry panel is very finely woven with wool. The panel is in overall very good original condition. There are some areas of repair, commensurate with age. The mille-fleurs ground in particular is in largely original condition. There is an area of patched repair to the mille-fleurs ground above the arbour in the centre, which is visible on close inspection. It is a group of different coloured green repairs. For example there is a small area of 19th century reweaving within the trunks of the two small Rowan trees in the far left corner. There are old repairs to the green ground along the lower edge, commensurate with location and age, and in other small areas of the ground (old moth and fold line) The negative space between the rose arbour trellis, which is different shades of brown, is 19th century reweaving. The original ground in this area probably having been a dark shade, probably dark brown, and suffered from oxidisation which was typical of the dye colour. The brown in the dark furthermost wing of the central held falcon is repair. There are some repairs in brown to the edging of the scallops of the blue hat of the male figure in the centre holding the falcon. There are repairs in blue to edge of left shoulder of blue robe of lady standing on the far right of the main group. There is an area of reweaving to the inside front sleeve of the lady kneeling within the main group. The small male figure in the top left has some repairs to clothing. The tapestry has an old linen lining with cord running along the top. The lining however is damaged and lacking in section and it is recommended that for future hanging the tapestry should be relined with fine linen. The present lining has a number `1' inked in the corner of lining. This tapestry has wonderful examples of early tapestry weaving technique which is virtually reversible, being of such a high technical standard. The later repairs have tails showing at the back. The hachure technique to create depth to the clothing folds for example is beautifully executed. There are charming details to the floral motifs, and extraordinary detailing to the clothing and accessories. It has well balanced colour and composition and a presence. This is a rare and special example of early tapestry weaving and very evocative of the age. It has a companion piece offered in this sale as lot 316.
"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."

Catalogue Note

The ideal of courtly society indulging in civilised pursuits and discussion in the countryside was a favourite theme in 14th century literature and art, such as Boccaccio's Decameron, and followed through in the 15th century in the evocative calendar miniatures of Paul de Limbourg's, Très Riches Heures for the Duc de Berry.

Medieval gardens were spiritual places and represented paradise on earth. The plants were central to judging the calendar year and the passing of the seasons. Gardens were often depicted in Spring time, and important as places for pleasure and utility. Many of the plants have symbolic meanings, medicinal roles, formed part of the culinary repertoire, were made into salves, dyes, cosmetics and oils, in addition to being fragrant and beautiful. In horticultural hierarchy roses and lilies, emblems of Mary and the mother of Christ, had precedence. Red roses also symbolised the blood of martyrs and with their heady scent, were revered as the breath of God on earth, the rose garden was particularly sacrosanct.    

Flowers depicted in tapestries include honesty, corncockle, pinks, camomile, campion, carnations, dandelions, forget-me-not, irises, lilies, lily of the valley, Lords and Ladies, orchids, periwinkle, stock, strawberries, sweet rocket, aquilegia, viola and daisies. The plants depicted are nearly all widespread throughout Western Europe at this time, thus preventing identification of the countryside and therefore perhaps the weaving centre of mille-fleurs tapestries through the flowers and shrubs and local horticulture. 

Medieval gardens always incorporated fruiting trees, as they had fragrant blossom, a canopy of leaves for protection during the heat, and fruit in the autumn. The trees are depicted out of scale and usually only as small trees, albeit with gnarled and developed trunks reminiscent of older and usually much larger trees. A. Cavallo, The Unicorn Tapestries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  New York, 1998, pp.103-110, Appendix I: Floral in the Unicorn Tapestries, discusses the interpretation of the botany in 16th century tapestry mille-fleurs grounds.

The garden depicted here is not so much a `Hortus conclusus', taken from the Song of Songs, and of Christian significance to Medieval society, with the depicting fountains and closed gates, but that of a paradise garden – secular paradise, and one in which wordly activities such as hunting are alluded to, sometimes with small animals in mille-fleurs backgrounds.  Alternatively as in this tapestry with the inclusion of the ritual sport of falconry and hawking. For discussion of the mille-fleurs tapestries alluding to hunting, with small animals, see an allegorical mille-fleurs tapestry with scattered animals and small fruiting trees, Flemish, probably Bruges, dated about 1530-45, in C. Adelson, European Tapestry in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1994, pp.105-115, cat.no.9.

For discussion of the 'Enclosed Garden', 'Fountain of Life' tapestries of the Southern Netherlands, dated the first quarter of the 16th century, see Ebeltje Hartkamp-Jonxis and Hillie Smith, European Tapestries in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 2004, pp.45-47, no.8, and another `Hortus conclusus' tapestry panel, from the Bergisches Museum, Schloss Burg an der Wupper.

Tapestries of this genre were to cover walls from top to bottom and were usually without borders, and alluded to an extension of a natural landscape setting. Interestingly, in comparison to the images of the presently offered companion tapestries (lot 315 and 316) in situ in the 19th century (see figs 1,2 & 3), there is a black and white photograph of two of the Cloisters Collection unicorn tapestries originally in situ at the Château de Verteuil, in around 1890-100. A. Cavallo, The Unicorn Tapestries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  New York, 1998, pg.15. Equally the panels in each room show that the same subject could predominate and a series of similar panels used to cover the walls. Hunting, rather than classical and Biblical tapestries in the 15th and 16th century, were particularly popular as status hangings for domestic settings, and commissioned by nobility and merchants. Various hangings of the period are generically called Southern Netherlands, due to the extent of the influences across borders, in design and the actual weaving, making it very difficult without actual documented evidence, to specify the weaving location. The designers, artists, weavers and agents all moved around the area of the South Netherlands. In this region the owners of workshops and financial agents were always independent and there are scant remaining documents. The records for the Dukes of Burgundy for example fortunately show that orders for tapestries were placed through weavers and dealers in Arras or Tournai. Record taking regarding commissions improved with the introduction of state run workshops which started in 16th century Florence.

Comparable Tapestries:

`Honor making a chaplet of roses', A Southern Netherlands allegorical fragment, dated circa 1425-1450, is woven with very similar motifs, including the enclosure of three`turf benches', A. Cavallo, Medieval Tapestries in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1993, pp.148-155, cat.no.6. (Measurements 236cm. x 274cm; 7ft. 9in., 9ft.). Albeit a hanging of joined pieces and woven with narrative banderoles, it does show similarities of design. The figures bearing resemblance to the smaller figures incorporated in the corners of the presently offered tapestry panels, including the costume of the houppeland with jewelled girdle and coiffure of a wide jewel studded bourrelet, and the males have the early fashion of pointed shoes. The depiction of the mille-fleurs grass and some of the botany is very similar.

Interestingly there are two hangings, depicting `The Falcon's Bath', Southern Netherlands, 1400-1415, which are considered to have been woven after the same or similar cartoon, with one woven in reverse orientation, as in the presently offered tapestry panels (see Cavallo, ibid. pp.125-133, cat. no.3 & 3a). They are woven depicting a seated male and female (with similar bourrelet and houppeland) with a mille-fleurs foreground only, and fruit tree woodland background, incorporating smaller figures. The scene represents one of the numerous formal procedures in the long process of taming a wild hawk and preparing it for use in the sport falconry. The hawk with the aid of the stick is encouraged to bath, and therefore become accustomed to humans. Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, De arte venandi cum avibus, second quarter 13th century, describes the process comprehensively, as does Henri de Ferrières, in the 14th century manuscript Le livre du roy Modus et de la royne Ratio. Both have been cut on all sides. It is noted that in design they will have probably used a similar source to that which inspired the figural grouping in the tapestry of 'The Gift of the Heart', in the Museé du Louvre, Paris, of a similar genre to the present tapestries.

For a small fragment of a verdure with a rabbit warren, dated early 15th century, Franco/Burgundian, against ground of green faded to blue, which has similarly highly stylised mille-fleurs motifs and small flowering trees, and in this instance small animals interspersed between, see G.F. Wingfield Digby, The Tapestry Collection – Medieval and Renaissance, Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1980, pg.21.cat.no. 9, black and white pl.17.

Comparable Series of Tapestries:

`The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries' – Victoria and Albert Museum, London

This early 15th century, Southern Netherlands, series of tapestries comparable, in genre, date and costume, comprises of of four enormous panels, without borders, depicting, The Deer Hunt, The Boar and Bear Hunt, The Otter and Swan Hunt, and that of Falconry. These tapestries can be dated to circa 1430.

For discussion of these tapestries in specific relation to the interpretation of the costume, see L. Woolley, Medieval Life and Leisure in the Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, V&A Publications, London, 2002. For further historic discussion see G.F. Wingfield Digby, The Tapestry Collection – Medieval and Renaissance, Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1980, pp.12-14, cat.no.2-5, black and white pls.2-11.

`The Unicorn Tapestries' – The Cloisters Collection: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This late 15th century, Southern Netherlands, set of seven `Unicorn Tapestries' from the Cloisters Collection is also a most useful allegorical hunting series to consider with the present companion panels and is discussed comprehensively in, A. Cavallo, The Unicorn Tapestries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  New York, 1998. The unicorn has both secular and religious symbolism and is set in familiar contemporary botanical settings. The style of drawing, composition and costume in this unicorn series dates the panels to around 1495-1505, which is later than that of the present panels.

For illuminating and comprehensive illustrated discussion of tapestry weaving, trade and manufacture at this time, see Thomas Campbell, Tapestry in the Renaissance, Art and Magnificence, Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibition, March-June 2002, Yale University Press 2002, Tapestry Patronage in Northern Europe 1380-1500, pp.13-28; Merchants and Weavers in Northern Europe 1380 -1480 pp. 29-39; Artists and Cartoonists in Northern Europe 1380-1480, pp.40-49.