The Adoration of the Magi - Lot 6

The Adoration of the Magi Very rare German tapestry, probably Franconia 16th century, dated 1577 H. 0.50 m x W. 0.62 m H. 1ft 7½ x W. 2ft ½ Iconography: The adoration of the Magi, guided from the East by a star, is recounted only by Matthew (II, 1-12): "Entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and prostrating themselves on the ground, they adored him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh - and having received a warning while they slept not to go to Herod, they returned to their country by another route" (see Louis Réau). From the 12th century onwards, symbolism associated the Magi with the three ages of life and the different continents known at the time: Europe, Asia and Africa (Louis Réau, op. cit.). Melchior is an old man, Balthasar a middle-aged man and Gaspard a young man (a post-Gospel tradition gave them these names). Their gifts have also become symbolic: gold is a tribute to Christ's royalty, incense symbolizes his divinity and myrrh signifies that he is destined to die. A precious work of devotion for a private oratory, richly woven in gold, this small tapestry, according to H. Göbel (op. cit.), who reproduced it in his book, originated in Franconia, the historic region of Germany that is now part of Bavaria. Material and condition: Wool warp, wool weft, silk and precious metal threads Good condition, colors well preserved, sewn (by hand) on green velvet stretched over a stand. Provenance : - Collection of the Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein, Maihingen Convent. - In 1950 in Harburg Castle, another residence of the Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein. Exhibition: - Dieu, ses prophètes et ses saints, Galerie Chevalier, June 2001, reproduced under no. 10, catalog by Nicole de Pazzis-Chevalier. Bibliographical references: - Heinrich Göbel, 1933, Wandteppiche, Teil III, Die Germanishchen und Slawischen Länder, Band I, repr. no. 223 - Louis Réau, 1956, Iconographie de l'art chrétien, Tome second, vol. II, pp. 236-255