A 17th century tapestry cushion cover

Esther and Ahasuerus

Denmark or Northern Germany, circa 1680

Woven in silks and wools with the supplicant queen before the throned king, the figures set within a wreath of flowers and leaves on an umber ground, with three pendant strawberries between them. The scene is taken from chapter 5 of the Book of Esther, as described in the echoing phrases of verses 1 to 3…

1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

A similar panel in the collection of the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen is illustrated as plate 101c in ‘Wandteppiche (III. Teil, Band 2): Die germanischen und slawischen Länder’, Heinrich Göbel, Leipzig 1934, and another was sold as lot 166 at Sotheby's London, 8th November 2023.

The tapestry 55.3cm (21¾”) high and 55.5cm (21⅞”) wide.

In a wooden frame 61.2cm (24⅛”) high and 60cm (23⅝”)wide.