A rare and remarkable Elizabeth I tapestry long cushion cover, circa 1580

Woven in coloured wools and silks, depicting the Return of the Prodigal Son, the figures within lush gardens surrounded by fountains, flowers and fruit trees beneath decorative arches, the spandrels with cherubs, warp fringe, framed and glazed, 39cm x 67cm

For comparable examples see Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, accession no. T.1-1953, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession nos. 54.7.6 and 54.7.7.

Literature:
For a comprehensive discussion of the challenges around attempting to attribute English tapestry to individual workshops see Hilary L. Turner, Tapestries once at Chastleton House and their influence on the image of the tapestries called Sheldon: a re-assessment, Antiquaries Journal, 2008, Vol. 88 pp. 313-343. See also Hilary L. Turner, Tapestry sections depicting the Prodigal Son: how safe is an attribution to Mr Sheldon's tapestry venture at Barcheston?, Archaeologia Aeliana, 5th series, XXXVII, 2008, pp.183-196.

See Lot 74.