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TAPESTRY - VIOLA DA BRACCIO
Flemish, probably late 17th century. c. 31.5" high 51" wide (130 x 95 cm). Somewhat fragile but overall good despite several repaired spots. Together with a report from the Textile Conservation Laboratory of the Cathedral Church of Saint John in New York (where the tapestry was recently cleaned and stabilized, attention given to sewing up some open slits, supplied with a support backing, and prepared for mounting).Rare tapestry depicting a woman playing a viola da braccio.
A stunning and altogether delightful rare woven shaped tapestry, almost certainly Flemish late 17th century. The tapestry has decorative borders on all sides with a central motif depicting a woman playing a three-stringed viola da braccio between the pillars of a portal and with other musicians on either side. To her right (on the left as you look at the tapestry) a small kneeling figure appears to be playing some type of horn while a standing figure is dancing and clapping his hands. To her left are two figures listening while another plays a fife and holds some sort of rattle.
In our experience, historical tapestries showing early stringed instruments are extremely rare and indeed, we have never seen one before.
The first instruments of the viola da braccio family were built in Italy about 1530. After an early form with three strings, a four-stringed version was developed with different sizes and tunings.
ODA-16008$8,000