Based on a Biblical excerpt that tells the story of when Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with an infant Jesus, this scene is a fragment of a larger Flemish hand-woven tapestry from the 1600’s. Despite being around 400 years old, the silk and wool threads still maintain their vibrant colors, which are accentuated by the more recent green border that was hand-sewn around the trio. A beige linen has also been added to the back to protect the threads, which were woven from the backside.

Mary is clad in a cream and gold robe while holding Jesus on top of a brown and tan horse. A long-haired dog scampers near the horse, with a blue cloaked Joseph walking behind. Traces of greenery can be seen amongst the beige and brown terrain, as the Bible describes the voyage as being along a coastal road (known as Via Maris or “way of the sea”).

Our 17th century tapestry fragment from Flanders has the benefit of not being as wide as a full tapestry, allowing it to be placed on a wall where space is at a premium. The back has been fitted with a “looped” Velcro strip, allowing for a quick and easy installation (the “hook” strip would need to be affixed to the wall).

CONDITION: Very strong antique condition of a fragment from a 17th century tapestry. The colors are still vibrant with minimal tears and losses. The green border and the linen backing were added more recently.