A rare English Old Testament Tapestry panel, 16th century, from 'The Story of Judah', 16th century, dated 1595, Warwickshire or London,

woven with central medallion enclosing scene of 'Judah and Tamar', depicting Tamar confronting Judah, and in her defence showing him the signet, bracelet and stick given to her without him knowing her identity, the figural group surrounded by scrollwork architectural surround incorporating inscriptions and date, Genesis VIII 1595, and By the man unto whome these things pertayne am I with childe, and further initials, entwined cypher MWI and EI, with a mille-fleurs surround and walnut ground elements, (Genesis: 38); reduced in width and lacking borders

Chastleton House, Gloucestershire, early 17th century 
Chastleton House Sale, Sotheby's, 12 November 1920 (related four tapestries offered as lots 128-131)
New York purchase, 1953, and restored by De Wit Manufactory, Mechelen, 1957
Thence by descent

This is a rare English tapestry. Although it is a fragment, compared to the existing panels, the mille-fleurs around above the sculptural cartouche is largely there, and it is lacking some of the same ground design on the sides. There is no longer an outer border. The colours of the catalogue photograph show the red in the surround to more strident in colour than it actually is in appearance. In reality the colours are evenly faded overall. The letters within the sculptural surround are faint to decipher without close inspection, due to fading of original colours used. There are some small areas of repair, and some minor areas of weakness. There is minor oxidisation to the browns of ground in areas, and small areas of brown reweaving, for example in the lower right corner. The tapestry has a linen lining on the reverse. It is recommended that Velcro is used for hanging purposes in the future. There is a range of colours still present and some lovely detail motifs and early hachure weaving technique. This is a special tapestry, and is a versatile size.
"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."

'Judah recognises his staff and bracelets', (present lot), 'Judah and Tamar' /possibly 'Judgement of Paris' (approximately 335 by 335cm), Victoria and Albert Museum London, ' Judah gives his staff and bracelet to the seated Tamar', Aston Hall, Birmingham,  'The birth of Pharez and Zareh', Burrell Collection, Glasgow (Inv.47.20).

Comparable Literature:

Heinrich Göbel, Die Wandteppiche, 1934, Part III, Vol.ii, B. 16 Jahrhundert. I. Die Sheldon-Werkstätten zu Barcheston und Bordesley, pp.155-168, pp.161-162, nos. 123a, The Story of Judah, Birth of Pharez and Zarah. Manufacture: Sheldon. Richard Hyckes, 1595. By permission of Mrs Gubbay, and 123b, The Judgement of Paris. Manufacture: Sheldon. Richard Hyckes, about 1595. London, Victoria and Albert Museum;
Guy Delmarcel (Ed), Flemish Tapestry Weavers Abroad, Emigration and the Founding of Manufactories in Europe, Leuven University Press, 2002, Wendy Hefford (Victoria and Albert Museum, London), Flemish Tapestry Weavers in England: 1550-1775, pg.43-61;
W.G. Thomson, A History of Tapestry, London, 1930 & 1973, Chp. XII, 16^th Century England, Scotland and Ireland, pp.239-276, pp.268-270, pl. p.269, for the panel from the series The Story of Judah, depicting The Judgement of Paris;
Hilary Turner, ‘Tapestries once at Chastleton House and their influence on the image of the tapestries called Sheldon: A reassessment’, Antiquaries Journal, 88, 2008, pp.313-346;
W.G. Thomson, Tapestry Weaving in England, London, 1914, Chp XIII, The Sixteenth century - Manufactories and Tapestries, pp.46-54, & Chp XIV, Late Barcheston Tapestries, pp.55-64;
The Vigo-Sternberg Galleries, London, Exhibition Catalogue, Four Hundred years of English Tapestries, 1^st – 12^th November 1971, cat. no. 3, pp.10-11. The Story of Judah, Judah goes to Timnath, (the panel illustrated in Göbel, pl.123a; and sold Sotheby's, London, 30 March 1962, lot 100);
A.J.B. Wace and E.A.B. Barnard, The Sheldon Tapestry Weavers and their work, Oxford, printed by John Johnson for the Society of Antiquaries of London, 1928;
Anthony Wells-Cole, Art and Decoration in Elizabethan and Jacobean England: The Influence of Continental Prints, 1558-1625, Yale University Press, 1997, Part II, Chp. 13, Tapestry, pp.221-235.