Lot 1095 Dα

Researchers generally localise this type of tapestry to the small Belgian towns of Geerardsbergen and Grammont, which both already had township status in 1068. The surreal designs developed by the weavers working there still fascinate us to this day: A broad, yellow-ground architectural framework leads the viewer's gaze into an overgrown thicket of bizarrely enlarged thistle foliage populated by strange exotic birds feeding on snails. This jungle is interspersed with flowers whose vivid (but today usually faded) colouring creates a pleasant contrast to the dark greenery. Although these textiles are nearly 500 years old there are still several astonishingly well preserved examples to be found, especially in terms of clarity of depiction. As to the meaning of the motifs, we can only speculate that the pictorial invention had some eschatological significance.