Oliver Cornish
Sale Coordinator for Furniture, Sculpture, Rugs & Tapestries
Lot 4TP
A 16th century tapestry fragment Formerly part of a larger tapestry in Gerona Cathedral
3 December 2025, 13:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£4,000 - £6,000
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Helena Gumley
Head of Sale Carpets and Tapestries
A 16th century tapestry fragment
Formerly part of a larger tapestry in Gerona Cathedral
Woven in wools and silks, the central figure with a shepherds crook over his shoulder, a pipe in his right hand, a hound wearing a spiked collar to the bottom right corner, another shepherd behind the central figure and part of a bearded figure dressed in a green robe to the far left, a cityscape visible to the middle distance on the right hand side, enclosed by later outer slip, 163cm x 121cm
Woven in wools and silks, the central figure with a shepherds crook over his shoulder, a pipe in his right hand, a hound wearing a spiked collar to the bottom right corner, another shepherd behind the central figure and part of a bearded figure dressed in a green robe to the far left, a cityscape visible to the middle distance on the right hand side, enclosed by later outer slip, 163cm x 121cm
Footnotes
Provenance
Peta Smyth Antique Textiles, 23rd March 1998.
By repute formerly part of a larger tapestry which hung in the Cathedral of Gerona, illustrated by Heinrich Goebel in Volume II of his 'Wandteppiche' 1928, fig 484.
The invoice from Peta Smyth (a copy of which can be provided) states that the tapestry was formerly part of a series relating to the life of Christ and was woven by Joan Ferrer in 1561. Smyth suggests that the piece has probably not always been on view (due to the intensity/preservation of the colours) and was possibly part of a section whish was wrapped around the back of the larger piece or cut off entirely.
Gobel writes that Ferrer probably emigrated from the Netherlands to Spain and moved temporarily to Gerona in the 1560s. A contract was commissioned on Nov 26 1560 and upon its completion Ferrer was commissioned to weave eight hangings for the choir depicting the Life of Christ.
Literature
Goebel, Heinrich Goebel, 'Wandteppiche' Vol II, 1928, pp.457 -462.