Aubusson tapestry from the Robert Four factory in wool and linen after "The Bestiary"

Aubusson tapestry from the Robert Four factory in wool and linen hand-printed in wool heart, based on the 15th century work “the bestiary” composed of a decor teeming with plants and animals in front of a dominant village green and orange hues. Two wooden battens support it, one in the upper part provided with two hooks to hang it securely, the other in the lower part to give it weight for a perfect fall. The certificate of authenticity from the Robert Four factory is affixed to the back and the inscription 9092-918 can be read on the reverse of the cleat located in the lower part. It is in very good condition with no tears or holes to report apart from tiny threads of wool which are cut on the reverse and the original colors are well preserved. The reputation of Aubusson tapestry is well established; since the 15th century, the towns of Aubusson and in particular Felletin, in La Creuse, have been the cradle of this ancestral craft of hand weaving. First appreciated by kings to adorn walls and floors but also to keep the heat in castles, the Aubusson tapestry experienced a turning point in 1665 thanks to Colbert who created the royal Aubusson factory by imposing strict specifications . Threatened by new industrial techniques in the 20th century, this centuries-old craft was revived by the artist Jean Lurçat who breathed new life into creative methods in the 1940s. The Robert Four factory was created in 1952 with the desire to perpetuate this unique know-how and has been registered with the “living heritage company” label since 2006 and with UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage in 2009.