Beschreibung:

woven with a composition of floating imaginary, symmetrical structures around a central architectural cabochon with an exuberant strapwork surround enclosing a figural group possibly the ‘Sacrifice of Joab’, and incorporating allegorical figures across the top and a seated figure of Fame with two trumpets (tuba) in each lower corner, together with the winged helmeted head of Mercury (messenger of the Gods) and the caduceus (symbolic of eloquence and reason), the swan (associated with beauty, music and for guiding the chariot of Venus), the eagle with flaming thunderbolts (attribute of Jupiter), and other allusions to the antique in the depiction of objects and bruhl parfum, linked by ribbon tied pendant floral and fruiting swags, with jewels and pearls, and butterflies and insects, all against a distinctive cerise red ground; lacking border and with rewoven right hand corner wool, woven approximately 271 by 364cm., 8ft 10in by 11ft 11in. third quarter 16th century, and later