A 'GROTESQUE MEDALLION' TAPESTRY, SOUTHERN NETHERLANDS, BRUSSELS, THIRD QUARTER 16TH CENTURY, AND LATER

Property from the Estate of Howard Hodgkin

A 'GROTESQUE MEDALLION' TAPESTRY, SOUTHERN NETHERLANDS, BRUSSELS, THIRD QUARTER 16TH CENTURY, AND LATER

woven with a composition of floating imaginary, symmetrical structures around a central architectural cabochon with an exuberant strapwork surround enclosing a figural group possibly the ‘Sacrifice of Joab’, and incorporating allegorical figures across the top and a seated figure of Fame with two trumpets (tuba) in each lower corner, together with the winged helmeted head of Mercury (messenger of the Gods) and the caduceus (symbolic of eloquence and reason), the swan (associated with beauty, music and for guiding the chariot of Venus), the eagle with flaming thunderbolts (attribute of Jupiter), and other allusions to the antique in the depiction of objects and bruhl parfum, linked by ribbon tied pendant floral and fruiting swags, with jewels and pearls, and butterflies and insects, all against a distinctive cerise red ground; lacking border and with rewoven right hand corner
approximately 271 by 364cm., 8ft 10in by 11ft 11in.

Condition Report:
Overall measurements: 364cm across the top, 362cm across the bottom, 271cm along the left side, 272cm along the right side.

In stable professionally restored condition. The lower right corner and sections of top right edging are later reweaving. Well executed and with comparable fineness and tension.

Fragment and reduced in size. Lacking borders. With linen backing with Velcro attached for hanging purposes. The section of later reweaving is approximately 200cm along the lower right corner: it starts from the scroll centre of lower edge and extends up to approximately 65cm and stepping up to 68cm underneath arm of female term figure and then stepping up to 77cm near the outer male term figure's trumpet and reducing to 20cm wide above the term figure's head, and the height from the lower right corner to the top of the rewoven area is approximately 149cm up the right side, with a spur of 16cm in height and 57cm in length of reweaving extending out above the original weave of the swans and most of garland below. There is another horizontal strip of later reweaving approximately 14cm high and 43cm wide (which extends out from the side edge through the swag of flowers and to the edge of narrow columns) and the reweaving continues up to the top right corner for a width of 6cm, from the outside edge.

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."