Franco/Flemish Landscape tapestry, probably Oudenaarde late 17th century, woven within a three sided border (lacking lower border). Professionaly cleaned end restored at De Wit, Mechelen, Belgium, in 2001, and bearing their workshop label on the reverse lining. Dimensions: approxymately 244 cm high, 383 cm wide. Not been hanging since restored. Therefore clean, stable, and with Velcro applied across the top edge for hanging purposes. Colours are attractive and vibrant. There are old repairs and reweaves, especially along the lower edge, where there are repairs where the design does not match up. The lower border is lacking. This is a very decorative tapestry with good colour balance, and a usable size, as not too high. Literature: Sternberg, Charles, Verdure Tapestry Exhibition, 26 May - 14 June 1983, Vigo-Sternberg Galleries, London, No.24., for a comparable landscape tapestry, with a river in the background and church, and eagle, hare and hound in the foreground (approximately 250 by 445cm), described as Flemish, 17th century. The border type is very similar, incorporating the blue vase of flowers in the centre of the top border, flanked by small Corinthian columns, and similar use of golden scrolls and blue vases with exuberant flowers. Baroque 17th century Verdure tapestries were very popular and were woven from cartoons which were repeatedly used; therefore it is not always possible to date them exactly. The tapestries were woven in various provincial weaving centres including Oudenaarde. During this perios French workshops also produced Verdure tapestries in the Flemish style, as many were woven by Flemish immigrant weavers, that stayed and worked successfully in Aubusson and Felletin workshops.