79504 Antique French Aubusson Tapestry, 02'09 x 10'08.
A Gilded Aviary: Late 19th Century French Aubusson Tapestry Trio of Rococo Grace
Woven in the storied ateliers of Aubusson during the late 19th century, this rare trio of handwoven wool and silk tapestry panels is a reverent homage to the great French verdure tradition. Designed for refined interiors that prize poetry over spectacle, these extraordinary masterpieces conjure an aristocratic vision of nature as sanctuary—quiet, cultivated, and eternally graceful. Their elongated format and harmonious palette suggest architectural intent, created to elevate paneled walls, galleries, or intimate salons where connoisseurship is quietly declared rather than announced.
Each exquisite work of art unfolds as a lyrical woodland vignette. The left panel features a delicate dove, wings gently unfurled, a timeless emblem of peace and fidelity set amid flowering undergrowth. The central panel centers on a resplendent pheasant, its elongated form and trailing plumage symbolizing nobility, vigilance, and abundance—long favored in European decorative arts as an iconic sign of cultivated estates and aristocratic leisure. The right panel presents a poised partridge, a bird associated with devotion, protection, and pastoral harmony, standing alert within a sun-warmed clearing. Together, the trio reads as a symbolic cycle of tranquility, prosperity, and balance—an aviary of meaning woven into silk and wool.
The exceptional compositions are framed by exquisite ornamental borders that elevate the panels from decorative textiles to architectural artworks. Each corner blooms with sculptural floral bouquets, while sinuous rinceaux and scrolling acanthus leaves trace the perimeter in a refined dialogue between structure and movement. Trompe l’oeil filigree lends an illusion of carved gilt framing, blurring the boundary between textile and fine art. The mastery lies in the restraint: ornament enriches without overwhelming, allowing the landscapes to breathe with contemplative elegance.
Steeped in prestige and rarity, this Aubusson tapestry trio speaks to collectors drawn to legacy, romance, and the cultivated rhythms of Old World life. These panels are not merely decorative; they are statements of discernment—objects that transform interiors into places of reflection and inherited taste. Ideal for grand corridors, libraries, or formal salons, they offer an experience of quiet luxury, where nature, symbolism, and craftsmanship converge in timeless harmony.
- The specific vertical shape suggests they may have been designed as "entre-fenêtre" panels, intended for the narrow wall spaces between windows.
- Abrash. Desirable Age Wear.
- Handwoven wool with silk accents.
- Made in France.
- Measures: 02'09 x 10'08.
- Pile Height: 0.08 of an inch.
- Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
