A pair of 18th century Flemish verdure tapestries

Oudenaarde, circa 1750

Woven in wool and silk, each with a cockerel in a woodland glade set with flowers, one with a pair of blue parakeets perched above, the other with a harrier. Complete, retaining the plain narrow borders with which they were woven. Similar ‘verdure with birds’ tapestries are discussed on pp. 247 and 248 of 'Oudenaardse Wandtapijten', by De Meûter & Vanwelden, publ. Lannoo, 1999, with illustrations of three set in wood panelling on the ground floor of the Palace of the Prince-Bishops (now the seat of the provincial government) of Liège. These examples, installed in the middle of the 18th century, were also woven with only the same narrow umber border seen here, and without the full borders of ‘picture frame’ or fruit and flower design more commonly used to frame Oudenaarde tapestries of this period. With minor restorations, the upper borders rewoven.

Each 304cm (119¾") high and 53cm (21") wide.

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