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464 - ROYAL GOBELINS MANUFACTORY, Paris – c.
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Estimate €2,000 - €4,000
Sale commission
Description
ROYAL GOBELINS MANUFACTORY, Paris – c. 1690 An exceptional and delicate ceremonial frieze. A masterful horizontal fragment of tapestry from the Royal Workshops of Paris, intended almost exclusively for the King and royal residences. The chancellery design, based on cartoons by Claude Audran III and Guy-Louis Vernansal, for the Crown. A midnight blue field strewn with gold fleurs-de-lis, adorned with a large Baroque cartouche from which the coat of arms has been erased. The medallion originally bore the arms of France or those of a Minister of State, probably of Justice or Trade, judging by the surrounding elements. The cipher formed of two interlaced and abutting Ls corresponds to the official monogram of Louis XIV. The cartouche is framed by two stylised wings symbolising the Sovereign’s Renown. On the left, amidst garlands of polychrome flowers and leaves, the allegory of Prudence is represented by a serpent gazing at its reflection in a circular mirror. Prudence, a cardinal virtue and an attribute of wisdom, formed part of the political programmes designed to glorify the reign of the Sun King, particularly under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Colbert. The perfectly symmetrical composition draws the eye towards the wings of Fame and the attributes of Wisdom, Justice and Commerce. On the right are the attributes of Justice, notably the scales above the books, evoking the sciences and learning. The caduceus, formed of two serpents surmounted by outstretched wings, refers here to commerce, peace and eloquence, rather than to medicine. The whole is enlivened by multicoloured garlands of foliage, notably featuring a striking red peony. Woven on a low-warp loom. Wool and silk tapestry, framed and lined. Remarkably fresh colours and beautiful polychromy. Height: 65 cm Width: 331 cm Restorations, oxidation and natural wear and tear. Note: During the reign of the Sun King, this border design, intended for Chancellery tapestries, was standardised by the royal artists Claude Audran III and Guy-Louis Vernansal. The central cartouche has been scraped or bleached, causing the coat of arms to disappear. This intervention is regarded as evidence of the upheavals of the French Revolution, around 1789–1793, a period during which a decree compelled owners of royal tapestries to burn or destroy coats of arms and symbols of nobility, on pain of confiscation. The owner thus removed the central coat of arms whilst retaining the pattern of fleurs-de-lis, enabling this significant 331 cm fragment to survive to the present day. The weavers at Gobelins were renowned for their mastery of colour gradients and tonal nuances, enabling them to render the flowers and their pictorial effects with great finesse. For royal commissions such as the Chancelleries, the workshops could use a weft of particularly high density, often exceeding 20 or 22 threads per centimetre, which contributed to the precision of the decoration. Comparable works: the Louvre Museum, the Mobilier National (Paris) and the Palace of Versailles all hold similar chancelleries.
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About the sale PRESTIGE - CLASSICAL CENTURIES - VAYRES CASTLE
Auction location
Auction time 10/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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