Aubusson tapestry. France, 17th century. Knotted... Lot 123

Aubusson tapestry. France, 17th century. Knotted wool. Good state of preservation. Measurements: 280 x 242 cm. The refinement of the carpets and handmade tapestries of Aubusson were very popular in the court of Louis XIV, period to which the tapestry we show here belongs. The central field depicts a classically inspired scene, with three ladies accompanied by a putto and a bull, set in a wooded clearing. The young women evoke the Roman goddess Flora and two wild nymphs. The bull reminds us of one of Zeus' metamorphoses. The Greco-Roman atmosphere, however, is transformed to suit the courtly taste of the 17th century. The large central medallion is ornamented with decorative patterns based on flowers with sensual corollas. Known as the "capital of tapestry", Aubusson's centuries-old art of painstaking execution has been classified as intangible cultural heritage by Unesco since 2009. The making of a tapestry of this level requires a complex technique and the intervention of a whole chain of trades. The tapestries are made with images of any artistic style prepared by a specialist in cardboard painting. The weaving is done by hand on the back of the tapestry by a heddle maker using a horizontally positioned loom and woollen yarns dyed by hand on the spot. This technique is very time-consuming and costly. Aubusson tapestries are the most emblematic craftsmanship of the luxury sector in Limousin, famous since the 17th century, and their value has even increased over time.