A rare pair of Brussels Chinoiserie tapestry-covered six-fold screens, the tapestries from the workshop of Judocus de Vos (1661/62-1734) early 18th century

incorporating various elaborate scenes of richly clad soldiers, fishermen, hunters, musicians, men picking fruit, couples frolicking, figures playing games, royalty, and other fantasy scenes, interspersed with Buddhas, pagodas, birds, exotic and fantastic animals, and vegetation, all on deep blue ground.

Possibly the von Oldenburg family, Güldenstein (the tapestries)
Sotheby's New York, Property From the Collection of Mrs. Antenor Patino, November 1, 1997,  lot 166

Beautiful quality. Good colors of the whole palette. The tapestries reduced on all sides. The tapestry covering each screen is composed of two separate panels. In one screen the two panels are sewn together; in the other they are attached side by side. Overall minor splits and small areas of open warps. General standard restorations throughout including some light silks, small patches and dots on blue ground. Each with a restored vertical fold. Each with restorations to upper edge. Restoration to lower left edge of one. One patch below lightining cloud on upper portion of one, approximately 4 by 6 inches. Another patch at lower left corner of the other, approximately 5 by 5 inches. Both attached to covered folding screens with velcro strips. One two-panel section partially glued down. Vertical edge of larger section where the two meet with remnants of glue. Some missing parts to hinges of folding screens. Very rare. Ready to use.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Leopold Philippe of Arenberg (1690-1754) is recorded as having commissioned a series of six historical tapestries from Judocus de Vos in 1712, and a 19th century inventory reveals that the Arenbergs owned a set of twelve Chinoiseries also by de Vos.  Four tapestries probably from that set, with dimensions matching those listed in the inventory, are signed "I.D.VOS" and appeared at auction in London in 2000.  In addition to these, at least five other unsigned tapestries depicting the same subjects were in the collection of the von Oldenburg family at Güldenstein Castle, and four others were offered for sale in Paris in 1956.  As the tapestries covering the present screens have been adapted, their original dimensions cannot be used to conclusively identify them with any of the aforementioned examples; it is unlikely that they are of the Arenberg set as some designs can be found both in the present lot and in those that appeared in the 2000 auction (see Christie's London, May 2000, lot 206).  For further discussion of the recorded versions of these tapestries see Brosens 2002, pp. 68-69 and p. 85 footnotes 68-70.

At the turn of the 18th century, Brussels tapestry production was in a period of decline; the workshop of the weaver Judocus de Vos was the largest of the dramatically reduced operations.  The Chinoiserie style became popular in the first decades of the 18th century, and thus Chinoserie tapestries produced in Brussels are extremely rare and little is known about the designs or commissions.  The scheme of floating islands with exotic vegitation and figures on a dark ground is derived from Asian lacquer-work.  Of similar design are the London tapestries attributed to John Vanderbank, weaver for the Soho tapestry workshop from 1689-1717; although they share a common inspiration, the designs of the tapestries covering the present pair of screens are the work of another yet-unknown artist.

The whimsical and elegant designs of the floating vignettes display a mixture of Asian influences and imaginative inventions, with scenes of fantasy, leisure, battle, worship and sorcery.  Capricious architecture, beasts both real and fantastic, and exotic costumes and objects are arranged in a rich, densely populated deep blue ground.  The later adaptation of the tapestries as coverings for folding screens, reminiscent of the much admired Asian lacquer form, is indeed true to the 18th century Chinoiserie spirit.

RELATED LITERATURE

Koenraad Brosens, "Brussels Tapestry Producer Judocus de Vos (1661/62-1734)-New Data and Design Attributions", in Studies in the Decorative Arts, volume IX, no. 2, Spring-Summer 2002, pp. 58-86