A French Landscape Tapestry, probably Aubusson late 17th/early 18th century

woven with birds and formal garden within river scape setting, within a four-sided floral and acanthus leaf border on a sable coloured ground, with further narrow inner and outer golden borders

The colours of this tapestry in reality are crisp, and attractive and softer hues in reality, and not as orange as appears in the catalogue photograph. This tapestry is in good, professionally restored and cleaned, and stable condition. It has linen lining and Velcro attached across the top for hanging purposes. Some areas of outer brown selvedge are later. There is reweaving to sections of the sky, visible as the light area. There are minor areas of horizontal reweaving to the top of the vertical borders, to the the inner section of the left border, and especially to the outer area of the right border. Small repairs to area of brown weave, commensurate with dye, see for example the bottom right hand corner, where small areas of different colours are visible. See also small areas of repair within the water. Some repair to the feathers of the birds, for example the later pink feathers, and other light areas of flowers in borders. The vertical line in the right hand section (is an old fold line from storage) and the wrinkles in the top right corner, are not permanent. This tapestry has balanced colour overall and is lively and attractive in appearance, with a highly decorative border.
"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."

For a comparable, signed border see A Historical Tapestry panel, dated early 18th century, depicting a scene from the The Story of Don Quixote, within a very similar border with the distinctive corner clasp golden acanthus leaves surrounding a corner flowerhead, and bearing the signature, MRDAVBVSSONHG, within the blue selvedge, Christie's, London, 30th October 1997, lot 208.