Zijstuk van een cantonnière voor een bed of raamomlijsting met een bloemenpatroon c. 1700 - 1725

This tapestry fragment, made at the Manufacture Royale des Gobelins, probably adorned a bed or window frame with its elaborate floral pattern. Royal manufactories like the Gobelins not only supplied lavish goods for the court and aristocracy but also served as powerful symbols of French national identity and economic prowess under the monarchy. Imagine the hands that labored over this piece, likely women whose identities are now largely obscured by history. The tapestry embodies an interesting tension: while its luxurious materials and intricate design speak to aristocratic excess, its creation relied on the skilled labor of the working class. The floral motif, rendered in rich reds and creams, is an emblem of idealized beauty. This fragment invites us to consider the complex interplay between art, labor, and social hierarchy in the pre-revolutionary era. It whispers stories of power, privilege, and the hidden hands that made it all possible.