Live Auction 4607Christie's Interiors - Masters & Makers
A LOUIS XIV 'PORTS DE MER' TAPESTRY
Lot 23

A LOUIS XIV 'PORTS DE MER' TAPESTRY

BEAUVAIS, LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY, BY PHILIPPE BEHAGLE OR NOËL ANTIONE DE MÉROU, AFTER ADRIEN CAMPION AND JOSEPH DE KERCHOVE

Closed6 March 2012

Price Realised

GBP 7,500

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A LOUIS XIV 'PORTS DE MER' TAPESTRY
BEAUVAIS, LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY, BY PHILIPPE BEHAGLE OR NOËL ANTIONE DE MÉROU, AFTER ADRIEN CAMPION AND JOSEPH DE KERCHOVE
Woven in silks and wools, depicting various exotic birds, fish and shells on a wooded beach, with a harbour scene and a fortified settlement with cattle beyond, within a pink and sand-coloured slip, lacking borders, areas of restoration and reweaving, including some patching to upper left hand side and some stitching securing exposed warp threads
8 ft. 5 in. x 10ft. 1 in. (256 cm. x 307 cm.)

John Cook, Mount Felix, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey and thence by descent to present owner

Specialist note

This tapestry belongs to a series that was initially inspired by the rich Ménagerie at Versailles. Unfortunately very little is known about the original commission of the series, but one of the first sets was supplied to the Swedish Royal Collection in 1695 (today at Burnstorp). A further set is at Chateau Merlemont. It is also interesting to note that the Garde Meuble only rarely purchased tapestries from Beauvais but this series featured among acquisitions made by Louis XIV for Chateau de Marly in 1696.
A tapestry from this series was sold at Christie's New York, 20 April 2007, Lot 111