Skip to main content
Bonhams
Search

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

A Jacobite concealed portrait snuff box18th century
A 15th century carved limestone figure of St George

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

A Derby centrepieceCirca 1765
A pair of mid 16th century Italian patinated and parcel gilt bronze angel candlesticks Probably Tuscan and in the manner of Domenico Becafumi (1484-1551)
A Renaissance Florentine panel woven in silks and metal threadMid 15th century, probably for a Dalmatic garment
A 16th century tapestry fragment Formerly part of a larger tapestry in Gerona Cathedral
A set of three Holkham Pottery wine jugs Third quarter 20th century
An extremely rare early 17th century Dutch black, red and gilt japanned casketProbably attributable to Willem Kick (Dutch, 1579-1647)
A carved limestone bust of a kingProbably late 14th/early 15th century, and later
A rare and impressive Charles II leaded bronze 'York' mortar Made for Roger Warde, apothecary, and dated 1684, together with a large associated cast iron pestle
A collection of four commemorative glass bowls and plates including for the Coronation of King George VI Second quarter 20th century and earlier
A late 18th/early 19th century Italian relief carved and part stained wood oval profile portrait plaque depicting a classical warrior maiden, perhaps Minerva Possibly attributable to the workshop of Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo (Italian, 1745–1820)
Of Grand Tour interest: A collection of six trays of 19th century plaster intagliosProbably from the workshop of Pietro Paoletti (Rome, 1801-1847)
Francesco Righetti I (Italian, 1738-1819): A patinated bronze figure of the Apollo BelvedereAfter the antique, Roman, the cast dated 1787
After Pierre Lepautre (French, 1659-1744) and François Girardon (French, 1628-1714): A patinated bronze figural group of 'Aeneas carrying Anchises'French, probably first half early 19th century
A rare French gilt copper and champlevé enamel crozier finial depicting St Michael slaying the devil as a dragon Limoges, 1220-1230
A rare French gilt copper and champlevé enamel book or Evangeliary cover depicting the Crucifixion Limoges, circa 1190-1200
A white metal shell and dolphin salt given to Lady Glenconner by Princess Margaret
A French gilt copper and champleve enamel oval plaque of the angelLimoges, 19th century
A pair of mother of pearl, yellow metal and gem-set dishes given to Lady Glenconner by Imelda Marcos during a visit to the Philippines
An early 19th century satin-birch, 'mulberry wood', ebonised and mother of pearl vanity and sewing box
A French second half 19th century red stained tortoiseshell, cut brass inlaid and gilt metal mounted 'Boulle' casket Circa 1870
Sir Alfred Gilbert, M.V.O., R.A (British 1854-1934): a patinated bronze figure of 'An Offering to Hymen'
A silvered bronze cockatoo Early 20th century, probably Austrian
Next Lot
Lot 1*,TP

An unusual 16th century mythological Flemish tapestry
Probably a commission by the Lauder Bass family, Scotland,

Fine Decorative Arts
1 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,760 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Home and Interiors specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

An unusual 16th century mythological Flemish tapestry

Probably a commission by the Lauder Bass family, Scotland,
Possibly depicting the story of Alexander the Great, designed with a battle scene, centred by a bearded warrior to the right raised on a splendid armoured steed, a red haired youth to the foreground and a furious battle raging to the right hand side of the boisterous scene, the whole enclosed by ribbon tied and scrolling garlanded border, the top edge with Lauder Bass coat of arms, the name BASS visible beneath the shield, Reduced in height and lacking lower border 431cm x 230cm

Footnotes

Provenance
Purchased in London, c.1950-1960.
Thence by descent.

The coat of arms to the upper edge appears to be that of Clan Lauder of Bass Rock, an island (and castle) owned by the Lauder of Bass. The name BASS appears beneath the rock in the shield.

In 1581 James VI was noted to have visited the castle and 'stayed in some comfort'. George Lauder of Bass, the new laird, became a close friend of the King's and he was knighted in 1590. Sir George married Isabella, daughter of Sir Patrick Hepburn of Waughton & Redbraes. They had only one child, George (b.1597) who would become the last Laird of Bass. Sir George died in 1611 leaving behind an extensive estate. His 'moveable goods' were estimated at £30,000 -a considerable sum at the time. After the Great Civil War the Lauders, notorious Royalists, never re-gained their Island fortress and it was abandoned in 1701 when part of it was demolished.

It is possible that Sir George commissioned this tapestry in light of his new elevation in status towards the end of the 16th century. Furthermore it is possible that the tapestry was woven in Scotland and most likely by a Flemish weaver. As early as 1312 there were records of Flemish weavers in Scotland, including one 'Matthieu de Araz'. In the next century 'Egidius Gremar de Arras' was paid £6 10s by James I in 1435. In 1436 one 'Egidius tapisario' was paid £7 -presumably these two names refer to the same person.

In 1502 James IV of Scotland welcomed a Meynnart Wewyck - a weaver who had previously worked for Henry VII of England. Scotland had a good reputation for high quality 'arras' production well into the late 16th and early 17th century. In 1581, one Robert Dickinson wrote of Scotland:

'to learn within this realm the art of the making and working of silks, to be as good and sufficient as the same is made within the countries of France of Flanders...'

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A Jacobite concealed portrait snuff box18th century
A 15th century carved limestone figure of St George
A Derby centrepieceCirca 1765
A pair of mid 16th century Italian patinated and parcel gilt bronze angel candlesticks Probably Tuscan and in the manner of Domenico Becafumi (1484-1551)
A Renaissance Florentine panel woven in silks and metal threadMid 15th century, probably for a Dalmatic garment
A 16th century tapestry fragment Formerly part of a larger tapestry in Gerona Cathedral
A set of three Holkham Pottery wine jugs Third quarter 20th century
An extremely rare early 17th century Dutch black, red and gilt japanned casketProbably attributable to Willem Kick (Dutch, 1579-1647)
A carved limestone bust of a kingProbably late 14th/early 15th century, and later
A rare and impressive Charles II leaded bronze 'York' mortar Made for Roger Warde, apothecary, and dated 1684, together with a large associated cast iron pestle
A collection of four commemorative glass bowls and plates including for the Coronation of King George VI Second quarter 20th century and earlier
A late 18th/early 19th century Italian relief carved and part stained wood oval profile portrait plaque depicting a classical warrior maiden, perhaps Minerva Possibly attributable to the workshop of Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo (Italian, 1745–1820)
Of Grand Tour interest: A collection of six trays of 19th century plaster intagliosProbably from the workshop of Pietro Paoletti (Rome, 1801-1847)
Francesco Righetti I (Italian, 1738-1819): A patinated bronze figure of the Apollo BelvedereAfter the antique, Roman, the cast dated 1787
After Pierre Lepautre (French, 1659-1744) and François Girardon (French, 1628-1714): A patinated bronze figural group of 'Aeneas carrying Anchises'French, probably first half early 19th century
A rare French gilt copper and champlevé enamel crozier finial depicting St Michael slaying the devil as a dragon Limoges, 1220-1230
A rare French gilt copper and champlevé enamel book or Evangeliary cover depicting the Crucifixion Limoges, circa 1190-1200
A white metal shell and dolphin salt given to Lady Glenconner by Princess Margaret
A French gilt copper and champleve enamel oval plaque of the angelLimoges, 19th century
A pair of mother of pearl, yellow metal and gem-set dishes given to Lady Glenconner by Imelda Marcos during a visit to the Philippines
An early 19th century satin-birch, 'mulberry wood', ebonised and mother of pearl vanity and sewing box
A French second half 19th century red stained tortoiseshell, cut brass inlaid and gilt metal mounted 'Boulle' casket Circa 1870
Sir Alfred Gilbert, M.V.O., R.A (British 1854-1934): a patinated bronze figure of 'An Offering to Hymen'
A silvered bronze cockatoo Early 20th century, probably Austrian