How do I hang an antique flemish tapestry safely?

Large textile panels require professional mounting using a fabric Velcro system or a weight-distributing sleeve sewn to the reverse. This ensures the structural tension spreads evenly across the entire upper edge without pulling individual threads. Positioning away from direct sunlight and strong artificial heat sources protects the fragile natural wool and silk fibres from fading and premature degradation over time.

What is a verdure tapestry?

A verdure tapestry is a landscape-focused textile piece dominated by stylized trees, leafy foliage, plants and occasional birds or animals. These works were immensely popular in Flemish workshops during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Rather than telling a complex mythological story, verdure pieces were designed to bring the feeling of an enclosed garden or forest directly into domestic interiors.

How do I tell sixteenth century pieces from later ones?

Sixteenth century examples typically feature dense architectural compositions filled with numerous figures enacting classical or biblical narratives. The perspective is often flatter and the border designs heavier and more Renaissance-inspired. Seventeenth and eighteenth century pieces increasingly favour open verdure landscapes or theatrical baroque drama with deeper spatial recession and lighter botanical framing.