73699 Beauvais Reproduction Tapestry, 05'00 x 06'07.
The Emperor’s Banquet: A Handwoven Beauvais Tapestry of Imperial Splendor
Drawing inspiration from The Collation: The Story of the Emperor of China, this handwoven wool tapestry is a faithful reproduction of the celebrated Beauvais workshop design that enchanted the French court in the late 17th century. A masterpiece of narrative luxury, it embodies the fascination of Europe’s aristocracy with the art and ceremony of the Far East — an opulent merging of chinoiserie fantasy and French grandeur. Woven with meticulous artistry, this extraordinary masterpiece invites its viewer into a royal tableau where power, culture, and beauty intertwine beneath the silken canopy of empire.
At the heart of this richly detailed composition, the Chinese emperor and empress share a tranquil meal, attended by a court of servants and musicians. Draped in sumptuous robes, they sit before a magnificent red pavilion adorned with gold filigree, the epitome of Oriental opulence filtered through Rococo imagination. The imperial couple’s serenity contrasts with the dynamic energy surrounding them — a servant presenting delicacies, a musician strumming her lute beside a playful monkey, and a court dwarf mid-dance, all rendered with movement and vitality. Each figure, gesture, and object contributes to the tapestry’s theatrical harmony, evoking the pageantry of Louis XIV’s France.
The composition’s grandeur is mirrored in its frame — a resplendent floral and fruit-laden border punctuated by the royal fleurs-de-lis of France. Cornucopias, gilt scrolls, and garlands cascade through the design, culminating in the crowned arms of the Sun King at the top, a reminder that this tapestry was as much a celebration of royal taste as of artistic skill. The balance of chinoiserie and classical ornamentation reflects the Enlightenment’s passion for the exotic — a fantasy world rendered through the lens of French refinement and decorative mastery.
Though newly woven, this Beauvais reproduction possesses the same spirit of aristocratic indulgence that once adorned the salons and palaces of Europe’s elite. For today’s collector, this exquisite work of art offers a glimpse into an era when tapestry was the pinnacle of luxury — a statement of status, intellect, and sophistication. Displayed in a grand dining room, study, or gallery, The Emperor’s Banquet transforms any interior into a scene of imperial pageantry, celebrating the timeless union of art, culture, and regal splendor.
- Reproduced as a European representation of the Emperor of China, K’ang Xi who reigned from 1661-1721.
- This Beauvais French Style Tapestry is a replication after cartoons by Guy-Louis Vernansal, and Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer, and Jean-Baptiste Belin de Fontenay, about 1697 - 1705.
- Abrash.
- Handwoven wool.
- Made in China.
- Measures: 05'00 x 06'07.
- Pile Height: 0.20 of an inch.
- Brand new. In-stock.
