I have never seen the famous "Lady of the Unicorn" (La Dame à la licorne) at the Cluny Museum in Paris, but now I definitely will. With my beloved La Chienne not feeling well I needed some beauty in my life and so I headed to my favorite brocante in Paris, on the Quai de la Seine, for much needed retail therapy.
There it was high on the wall and immediately I was charmed, but I have not been the only one to be forever changed by the beauty of these six tapestries. Authors George Sand, Jean Genet, and even J.K. Rowling (the tapestries are hanging in the fictional Gryffidor common room) were also enchanted.
Not being one to resist impulse when enchanted, I promptly asked if it could be brought down from the wall. The kind salesman, who knows us well I think, climbed over a few pieces of furniture in order to get to it . A quick inspection revealed that this was not an ordinary run-of-the-mill reproduction. It was obviously made by hand and in high quality wool fibers. The colors are deep and bright and the condition was nearly immaculate and what wasn't could be easily cured with a gentle vacuuming. The previous owner or maker pre-stretched on to a canvas frame with a wire for hanging and GRANDSARD signed on the back.
This made me curious. After a quick Google.fr search turned up two GRANDSARDs who were heavily involved in tapestry making, though I was unable to discover to what degree.
Being an ebay junky I immediately searched ebay to see how much of a bargain the beautiful tapestry really was. I paid 50,00 euros for my new treasure. Ebay.fr has many reproductions, but nothing handmade for less than ten times the price.
The Lady of the Unicorn tapestries that hang in the Cluny Museum in Paris are full of symbols, some from alchemy, and each of the six tapestries has a specific meaning. Five represent the senses and the sixth known as "Mon seul desir" (My only desire). My new treasure represents "Sight" and what a beautiful sight it is!
There it was high on the wall and immediately I was charmed, but I have not been the only one to be forever changed by the beauty of these six tapestries. Authors George Sand, Jean Genet, and even J.K. Rowling (the tapestries are hanging in the fictional Gryffidor common room) were also enchanted.
"If something happens," I said to myself, "it will be the appearance of a unicorn. Such a place and a such a place can only produce a unicorn." Jean Genet, A Thief's Journal
Not being one to resist impulse when enchanted, I promptly asked if it could be brought down from the wall. The kind salesman, who knows us well I think, climbed over a few pieces of furniture in order to get to it . A quick inspection revealed that this was not an ordinary run-of-the-mill reproduction. It was obviously made by hand and in high quality wool fibers. The colors are deep and bright and the condition was nearly immaculate and what wasn't could be easily cured with a gentle vacuuming. The previous owner or maker pre-stretched on to a canvas frame with a wire for hanging and GRANDSARD signed on the back.
This made me curious. After a quick Google.fr search turned up two GRANDSARDs who were heavily involved in tapestry making, though I was unable to discover to what degree.
Being an ebay junky I immediately searched ebay to see how much of a bargain the beautiful tapestry really was. I paid 50,00 euros for my new treasure. Ebay.fr has many reproductions, but nothing handmade for less than ten times the price.
The Lady of the Unicorn tapestries that hang in the Cluny Museum in Paris are full of symbols, some from alchemy, and each of the six tapestries has a specific meaning. Five represent the senses and the sixth known as "Mon seul desir" (My only desire). My new treasure represents "Sight" and what a beautiful sight it is!
The original six tapestries, Cluny Musuem Paris
Lady of the Unicorn Tapestry, "Sight"
The treasure, probably to be placed over the bed.
Lion detail on my tapestry.
Lady and the Unicorn detail.
Rabbit and Fox.
Good dog.
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