Flemish Tapestries - Wall Hangings page 1 William Morris and Morris & Co. Tapestries

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Since Medievel times, tapestries have been a symbol of prosperity and prestige. Today they are considered luxurious, decorative and highly collectible works of art which can transform homes, offices, hotels and restaurants. Modern weaving techniques have made these exceptionally fine wall hangings, once only the domain of the very affluent, significantly more accessable.

William Morris was born in Essex (hoorah) a man of the people and believed art should be for everyone, not just the elite. Reviving many ancient crafts, tapestry weaving amongst them, was an opportunity to do this. I have William Morris wallpaper in my dining room - which I have never tired of in the thirty years it's been on the wall - so can attest to his success in achieving this aim. Marianne Stokes one of his designers is, I'm delighted to say, an ancestor on my mothers side. He built a high-warp loom in his bedroom and taught himself to weave from an 18th century French craft manual. He visited French weavers and the ailing Aubusson factory. With friends such as Edward Burne-Jones, John Henry Dearle they formed Morris & Co. An important part of the Arts & Crafts movement which he headed.

Their influence was spread far and wide from architecture to gardens. They designed tapestries based on medieval styles and techniques and became a commercial success reviving the ancient craft. Perhaps best known for his Tree of Life tapestry shown below. Much of Morris & Co.'s design work and manufacturing was done at Merton Abbey, a village on the River Wandle in Surrey. Despite his ambition to be a painter and his later reputation as a writer, poet, publisher, political thinker and activist, it is as a designer of patterns, particularly botanical images, for which he is most well known

This is the most comprehensive collection of it's kind in the United Kingdom. From the gift-size screen and printed pieces to pure wool hand-woven wall hangings, the collection presents tapestries to suit a wide range of tastes and budgets.

Ehret die Frauen

142 x 205cm £1125

95 x 143cm £525

67 x 104cm £375

Designed by Pre-Raphaelite artist Marianne Stokes (born Preindisberger) 1855-1927. Woven by John Martin and Gordon Berry, Morris & Co, Merton Abbey in 1912, this tapestry was inspired by a quotation from Schiller's 1796 poem, 'Wurde der Frauen' (Women's Worth) which appears in the upper border: 'honour the women, they broid and weave heavenly roses into earthly life'. Below the figures are labelled left to right: Courage, Caring, Love, Wisdom and Fidelity. The original hangs in the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. Code; 14745

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Flora

110 x 72cm £340

133 x 90cm £540

198 x 131cm £1125

A pair with Pomona, Flora, The Roman Goddess of Flowers, belongs to those tapestries which featured Edward Burne-Jones's early figure designs. Incorporating Morris' decorative details. Flora was woven between 1884 and 1885 at Merton Abbey. Code 14389

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Tree of Life

113 x 70cm £340

130 x 94cm £540 184 x 130cm £1,125

The design for this exquisite hand woven wall hanging was taken from William Morris' bedchamber in Kelmscott Manor. The original bed chamber hangings, which can be seen there today, were actually embroidered by William Morris' wife, Jane, in 1891. After William Morris, Walthamstow, London 1834-1896. "The Tree of Life" has a complex & colorful pattern of flowing leaves and branches, coming out of a tree. The whole pattern symbolizes the positive flourishing of life and is a recurring theme in all of William's tapestry works. Even in his wallpaper works, this subject is eminent. 'Mille Fleurs,' the 'Medieval Decorative Technique,' inspired most of the backgrounds of the artist's works with heavily decorated backgrounds. Code: 13855

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The Arming and Departure of the Knights - The Holy Grail

70 x 105cm £320 without border Code 245L. 156 x 214 with border £1235

100 x 140cm £730 without border Code 245L. 123 x 214 with border £750

135 x 200cm £1065 without border Code 245L

275 x 344cm without border £4,125 Code 245L

The first of six panels from the Holy Grail series, this wall hanging was designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and was first woven by Morris & Co. in 1894. The original hangs in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot are on the left hand side of the tapestry. Code with border: 245 + Bord. Code without border: 245

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Holy Grail - left panel

70 x 105cm £370 without border

135 x 200cm £1065 without border

The first of six panels from the Holy Grail series, this wall hanging was designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and was first woven by Morris & Co. in 1894. It represents the arming and the departure of the knights of the Round Table, a mongst which Sir Bors, Sir Percival and Sir Galahad.The original hangs in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot are on the left hand side of the tapestry. Code without border: 245L

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The Round Table

70 x 105cm £380 without border

100 x 186cm £890 without border

This tapestry was designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and was first woven by Morris & Co. in 1895/6 and is one of six panels illustrating the story of the Holy Grail. It represents the King Arthur and his knights at the Round Table, amongst which Sir Bors, Sir Percival and Sir Galahad.The original hangs in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Code without border: 246

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Verdures with Reindeer and Coats of Arms

68 x 122cm £380 without border. 68 x 122cm £380 with border

133 x 216cm £1200 without border. 135 x 235cm £1200 with border

102 x 173cm £820 with border

This tapestry was designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and was first woven by Morris & Co. in 1895/6 and is one of six panels illustrating the story of the Holy Grail. It represents the coats of arms of certain knights of the round table: Sirs Gawaine, Lancelot, Hector, Percival, Bors and Galahad.The original hangs in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Code: 247

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Adoration of the Maji

94 x 147cm £570 without border

143 x 209cm £1,225 with border

First produced in 1890 for Exeter College, Oxford, the Adoration of the Maji became Morris & Co's most popular ecclesiastical tapestry. Originally designed by Edward Burne-Jones, specifically for tapestry with background detail by John Henry Dearle, it was considered by William Morris to be one of the company's most notable achievements. Code: 14509

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Fox & Pheasants

132 x 335cm £1,575 without border

72 x 188cm £570 without border

this was the first tapestry to be designed by John Dearle (1860-1932) who later became Morris & Co's chief textile designer. Dearle and others worked on the 'fox & Pheasants' duringg the Royal Jubilee Exhibition held in Manchester in 1887. The tapestry was finished in 1888 and subsequently bought for the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, where it remains to this day. Code: 14678

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The Letter

£975 without border.

A masterpiece of the late 19th century Re-Raphaelite period. Two curious ladies contrive to intercept a letter as the messenger sleeps. Code: 278

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Religious, Medieval, Heraldic and Floral Tapestries

Koran

87 x 140cm £150

70 x 100cm £95

46 x 76cm £75

This tapestry illustrates the first verse of the Koran. Code: 19863

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The Last Supper

65 x 110m £135

46 x 85cm £85

Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper. Code: 178

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Madonna and Child

135 x 75cm £1,250

202 x 138cm £550

The Madonna is a Roman Catholic title for Mary, mother of Jesus. It comes from the Italian word "Mia Donna" which means "My Lady". Code: 205

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Arms of Nagera

145 x 128cm £1025

98 x 70cm £375

Woven in Bruges around 1550 by Aernout Van Loo for the De Nagera family from Bruges, who were of Basque Spanish origin. Code: 13477

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The Jay

48 x 62cm £95

68 x 95cm £345

134 x 164cm £672

The Jay design was inspired by an inlaid panel from an 18th century cabinet which belonged to to the art collection of George IV at the Carlton Palace. the cabinet in now in Buckingham Palace. Code: 68/4

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The Vintage

280 x 430cm £5,625 with border 138 x 286cm £1,480 138 x 225cm £1,435

68 x 125cm £575

A magnificent representation of the grape-gathering and the wine press, on a MIlle Fleurs background. This tapestry, probably woven in Tournai in the 15th century, hangs in the Cluny Museum in Paris

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Falconers

67 x 51cm £284 118 x 77cm £733

This tapestry is part of a set of 7 representing the life of the nobility. Original of the tapestry, woven around 1500, hangs in the Cluny Museum in Paris

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To My Sole Desire

145 x 185cm £625. 125 x 145cm £265

This features two of the six tapestries from the Lady and the Unicorn series, each of which is available as a fine silk screen printed tapestry.Woven in Brussels around 1500. Code: 406

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The Sight

130 x 152cm £1,212

93 x 126cm £590

68 x 84 £362

A very fine piece from the series called 'La Dame a la Licorne' (the Lady with the Unicorn). the detail of the mirror in the lady's right hand is particularly noteworthy. This features two of the six tapestries from the Lady and the Unicorn series, each of which is available as a fine silk screen printed tapestry.Woven in Brussels around 1500. Code: 411

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Floral Abundance

145 x 125cm £375

187 x 145cm £625

This colourful tapestry reminds us of the flower still life paintings so popular in the period of the Flemish painter Jan Breughel (1568-1625). Code: 221

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The Smell

145 x 125cm £375

187 x 145cm £625

A very fine piece from the series called 'La Dame a la Licorne' (the Lady with the Unicorn). the detail of the mirror in the lady's right hand is particularly noteworhty. This features two of the six tapestries from the Lady and the Unicorn series, each of which is available as a fine silk screen printed tapestry.Woven in Brussels around 1500. Code: 410

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The Great Yarmouth Cloth of Estate

131 x 142cm £1062

Part of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, this tapestry can be attributed to Jean Mostinck, tapestry weaver from Enghien, who was claimed to be "tapissier" to the Royal Court of England. The arms represent the reign of either Edward IV (1547-1553) or Ellizabeth I (1559- 1603). Code:13997

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Awaiting the Chase

135 x 115cm £625

275 x 215cm £3,575

Two young dog handlers await the beginning of the hunt.The figures appear to have been inspired by those in 'January' and 'July' from the "Hunt of Maximillian". Early 16th century. Code: 272

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The Knight of Sienna

134 x 230cm £1,362

94 x 156cm £725

73 x 114cm £450

A design drawn from a fresco by Simone Martini (1284 - 1334) in the Palazzo Publico in Sienna. This, the first equestrian portrait in Western painting, is of Captain Guido Riccio de Fogliani. (1328). Code: 14816

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The Gallery

128 x 162cm £1150

70 x 97cm £400

It has been established that this tapestry was woven in Antwerp in 1640 in the workshop of Jacob Wauters. A five part series, woven from the same cartoons, exists in The English Royal Collection. The border, colour and detail further suggests the tapestry's origins with the Gods in each of the corners symbolising the four elements. Code: 13542

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The Touch

169 x 135 £525

138 x 145cm £462

The other of the six tapestries from the Lady and the Unicorn series, each of which is available as a fine silk screen printed tapestry.Woven in Brussels around 1500. Code: 400

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The Bath

82 x 70cm £275 133 x 125cm £1075

Representing a noble-lady taking a bath surrounded by her ladies in waiting and servants, the original of this exceptionally fine tapestry from the time of Louis XII, hangs in Paris' Cluny museum. Code: 12736

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Medieval Brussels

275 x 470cm £5,250

135 x 250cm £1062

100 x 180cm £725

70 x 129cm £295

Representing the month of March, the original, woven for Archduke Maximillian, hangs in Paris' Louvre Museum. A Horseman, Emporor Charles V (1500-1558) is set against a backdrop featuring the Imperial Palace, the town hall and the now, St Michael Cathedral. Code: 270

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Medieval Brussels

275 x 225cm £3,875

135 x 120cm £650

70 x 60cm £200

The red horseman is Emporor Charles V (1500-1558). In the background to the left the imperial palace which burnt down in 1731 and the town hall. Representing the month of March, the original, woven for Archduke Maximillian, hangs in Paris' Louvre Museum. A Horseman, Emporor Charles V (1500-1558) is set against a backdrop featuring the Imperial Palace, the town hall and the now, St Michael Cathedral. Code: 270/M

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The Concert

92 x 230 £875

92 x 160cm £650

Within a Mille Fleurs background a young woman surrounded by three children, accompanies a nobleman's song on the organ. The characters are dressed in the Italian style introduced into France by Charles VIII at the time of his Italian campaign of 1495. Code: 14797

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Suleyman

143 x 144cm £412

67 x 69cm £120

Tapestry wovein in Antwerp in the 17th centur. It is part of a series of 8 taoestries relating the oriental story of the Mongol Tamerlane. with vanquished Bayezid the Sultan. Kunsthistoriesches museum in Vienna. Code: 17510

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Child Gardeners

140 x 223cm £1300

70 x 112cm £462

Tapestry woven by Le Brun at the Gobelins. Paris. 17th century. Code: 14707

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La Pastorale

140 x 133cm £2212

67 x 69cm £110

Tapestry with a mythologiccal motif. inspired by J. Breughel the Elder's 'offering to Cybele' (1618). Cybele, the goddess of Nature, receives the gifts of nymphs and peasants. Code: 14856

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Suleyman

143 x 144cm £412

67 x 69cm £110

Tapestry woven in Antwerp in the 17th century. It is part of a series of 8 tapestries relating the oriental story of the Mongol Tamerlane who vanquished Bayezid the Sultan. Kunsthistoriesches museum in Vienna. Code: 17510

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Arms of Louvois

232 x 134cm £1350

131 x 68cm £412

This portiere (door curtain) was woven for the Marquis de Louvois, director of the "Manufacture des Gobelins" in Paris - 1641-1691. Code: 222/6

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Royale

220 x 141cm £937

216 x 141cm £782

154 x 141cm £600

A portiere (door curtain) inspired by elements drawn from Renaissance sources. Code: 14800

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Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer

91 x 70cm £247

61 x 45cm £125

Tapestry based on the famous painting by Jan Vermeer circ 1665-1667 and now hangs in the Koninklijk Kabinet van Schilderijen Mauritshuis, The Hague. Code: 1741

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Two Dancers on Stage by Edward Degas

140 x 100cm £387

100 x 70cm £247

70 x 50cm £120

Tapestry based on the famous ballerinas series by Edward Degas. Code: 1740

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Directoire

192 x 140 £1012

115 x 140cm £587

95 x 70cm £287

57 x 70cm £152

Derived from a portiere (door curtain) in the Palace of Versailles in the 18th century, The original was created from white satin, painstakingly embroidered with silver and gold thread. Code: 352

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