Cabbage leaves with birds - Lot 4

Cabbage leaves with birds Flemish tapestry, Enghien or Oudenaarde 16th century, second half H. 2.60 m x W. 2.50 m H. 8ft6 x W. 8ft3 Following on from the medieval Mille fleurs, Feuilles de choux (cabbage leaves) appeared in the second half of the 16th century in the Southern Netherlands and in France, in the workshops of the Marche region (Aubusson and Felletin). On a background of large, dark-green leaves, birds and/or animals stand out, along with other plants. The present tapestry is more original in that its large dark and light green leaves are shredded like holly leaves. Numerous birds enliven this plant motif. An attractive border of natural flowers and fruit frames the central composition, while the four corners feature a burst flower motif. Material and condition: Woven in wool and silk (wool warp, wool and silk weft). The tapestry is in a good state of preservation; it has undergone some restoration, and shows some wear in the border and some color highlights. Provenance : - Le Floch sale in Saint-Cloud, 6.10.2013 Bibliographical references (cabbage leaves for comparison) - Guy Delmarcel, 1999, La Tapisserie flamande, pp. 191-198. - Ingrid De Meûter, Martine Vanvelden 1999, Tapisseries d'Audenarde du XVIe au XVIIIe siècle, pp. 126 and 127.