During one of the Tresor Art Exhibitions (participated by almost 200 art galleries worldwide), one European gallery displayed a wide selection of tapestries often associated with palaces and castles in European countries. I could not resist the opportunity to acquire one which particularly appealed to me. It was too large for display and was stored away until yesterday when I took it out for photographic documentation. The photo shared in this message was taken yesterday morning.
Flemish Verdure Tapestry, also called Garden Tapestry, is an ancient woven textile art with designs based on plant forms used for decorating walls and furniture, especially in the large halls of European palaces. It is unknown exactly when the first verdure tapestries were made, but by the 16th century, tapestries with traditional designs derived from foliage had become immensely popular. Landscapes were incorporated into their creation in the last half of the 17th century.
There are a pair of cranes in the river and pheasants nearby in the tapestry I bought (above), in a wooded area with tall trees and shrubs with large leaves. There are some houses and mountains in the distance.
The photograph above shows a tapestry put up for sale at USD 40,000.00. It features an 18th century Flemish verdure tapestry featuring a tranquil scene in a woodland setting, with stately trees on both sides of the foreground, an exotic bird resting on the grass beneath their shadow and other trees in some grassy knolls in the distant middle background.
Tan It Koon
Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.
