Verdure with Birds

Centrally woven with peacocks, parrots and cranes before a classical landscape. In subject and period, it relates to the Fogg's two Aubusson 'chinoiserie' tapestries (1960.3, 1953.113), but here, despite the exotic birds, the landscape and architecture are distinctly European. This tapestry was most likely manufactured in Lille, a city with a distinguished tradition of high-warp manufacture. Many of the important weavers who resided there were of Flemish origin, which explains the stylistic similarities between this tapestry and Flemish verdures. The borders are simulated gold frames with scallop shell ornamentation at the corners.