A 17th century tapestry panel

Aubusson or Felletin, circa 1670-1690

Woven in silk and wool with ships approaching a harbour and a fortified city. In the foreground an elephant stands behind an outcrop amid trees and flowers, trunk raised and curled, opposite two bridled dromedaries. Exotic animals such as these occasionally appeared in Aubusson tapestries of the 17th century (see a tapestry of the same period sold as part of the Mayorcas Collection of Tapestries and Textiles, Christie’s King Street, 12th February 1999, lot 75, featuring a giraffe, and a ship sailing into port). It is likely that the ultimate inspirations for the design of the present tapestry were the various 16th century Tournai tapestries celebrating the voyages of the Portuguese, and, in particular, ‘The Arrival in Calicut’, from the series ‘The Portuguese in India’ that was commissioned by King Manuel I. This depicts a multitude of ships near a walled city and many curious animals aboard and on shore; among them a unicorn being hoisted to a ship where two dromedaries wait. The king had commanded that every type of animal unfamiliar to Europeans be brought back for his menagerie.

213cm (83¾) high and 327cm (128¾”) wide.