An early/mid 16th century Brussels tapestry depicting Rebecca At The Well – £24,000 at Dreweatts.
From Chilham Castle came an early/mid 16th century Brussels work depicting the Genesis story of Rebecca At The Well. Woven in metal threads, wools and silk, the 11ft x 14ft 8in (3.35m x 4.47m) tapestry sold within estimate at £24,000.
An early 18th century work from Flaxley Abbey depicting the finding of Moses in the bulrushes, probably after designs by Jan Van Orley and Augustin, came from Oliver Messel’s family home. Signed FVD Borght for the noted Brussels workshop and bearing the Brussels town mark, the 10ft 4in x 12ft 4in (3.15 x 3.76m) silk and wool weaving went at a five-times-estimate £20,000.
Messel’s talent also featured among the fabrics. This Aubusson-style machine-woven carpet was one he designed and had made by his frequent collaborator Stanislav V’Soske, ‘the dean of American rug design’.
Measuring 21ft 6in x 15ft 6in (6.56 x 5.05m), it was in need of some restoration but, against a £3000-5000 estimate, sold at £13,000.
