A Flemish mille-fleurs tapestry, Bruges, circa 1520

Acquired from Boccara gallery Paris, 2006.

There are a range of tapestries from the generic group known as millefleurs and large-leaf tapestries, which include various flowering plants and the inclusion of small birds and or animals. The inclusion of particular flowers and plants follows in the tradition of various art forms, including manuscripts and dates from the earliest tapestries and textiles. Panels of foliage were used to cover walls and were therefore woven in various heights and greater variety of widths. For comprehensive discussion of the range in this group, see Elizabeth Cleland and Lorraine Karafel, Tapestries from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow Museums, Philip Wilson Publications, London, 2017, Armorials, pp.229-277, with examples of comparable foliate ground decoration on two armorials, Southern Netherlands manufacture or weavers, pre 1585, and Verdures, pp.279-327.

An Armorial Tapestry, with the Arms of Charles V, Brussels, Willem de Pannemaker, 1530-1555, Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, (Delmarcel, p.122), shows similar isolated flowering plants on a dark ground, surrounding the double headed Imperial eagle. See Delmarcel, Guy, Flemish Tapestry, 1999, The golden days of the Flemish Renaissance in Brussels tapestries, pp.119-162, and The Renaissance outside Brussels, pp.164-207, for examples of tapestries with floral backgrounds.

For a comparable tapestry with large flowering plants against a dark ground, and incorporating small birds, of wider dimensions, Flemish, Enghien, 4ft by 10ft, and without a border, see Christie’s Online, 16 November 2021, lot 657.

Another panel, Flemish, probably Tournai, 16th century and later, with a row of colourful isolated flowering plants with small animals and a bird, against a dark ground, and within a narrow scrolling border with fruiting vines and with different flowers, 3ft 4in by 7ft 8in, was sold at Sotheby’s, London, 18 January 2023, lot 26.