A beautiful verdure landscape with a story to tell, this tapestry was produced in Flanders in the 1500’s. The roughly 500 year old tapestry is comprised of silk and wool fibers that have been dyed green, brown, cream, and gold, with the occasional blue highlights. A greige border with an ecru inner strip has been added more recently, as was the slate colored backing.

The tapestry depicts a bustling Flemish village surrounded by thick trees and lush vegetation. A castle can be seen in the distance, on top of a hill. A pair of nobility (one man and one woman), engaged in conversation, stand in the foreground beside a twisting path. Rabbits scamper nearby as a trapper on the right gives chase. Three more hunters pursue rabbits and deer through foliage with the help of hunting dogs. Behind them is a man plowing a field with two yoked horses. A shepherd with a crook tends to a flock of sheep as they graze. Various other activities can be seen in the busy town, including construction, gathering of wood, and transportation of goods.

In Medieval times, tapestries were hung on castle walls as insulation for the winter. The artistic renderings quickly became permanent fixtures as status symbols for the wealthy, as they were the most expensive form of decorative art around. Our 16th century verdure landscape can once again be hung on a wall as a grand decorative piece. Because tapestries are more pliable than paintings, you can also hang the tapestry on a wall of a wraparound staircase.

CONDITION: Good antique condition with wear commensurate to age and use, including separations and minor losses to the border. Old repairs coupled with recent professional repairs, which include reattaching the border and the addition of a backing fabric to minimize the separations. Please see photos.