A Rococo Revival Gobelin style wool tapestry panel Probably French, possibly as early as late 19th but more likely early 20th Century
Shortly after moving back to the USA from France, I purchased this tapestry at an antique store in Rochester, NY, in September, 1992. It was framed as it is now. I have not made any modifications. The salesperson had no information on it. I have no other information besides the label on the back, "Pittsford Picture Framing Company (founded 1962)" which was already very old and tattered. Someone valued it enough to frame it as opposed to just hanging it. I've done image searches on Google and cannot find a duplicate. It does not appear to be a mass produced tapestry but it is in the same genre as Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "Les Hasards heureux de l'escarpolette" from 1768 which is still mass produced.
Frame 55.75" x 41.5" Tapestry 50" x 35.25"
Auction House
Yes
Hi Michael,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Despite *some* similarities to Fragonard's "The Swing" (French: L'Escarpolette), this panel features a slightly different scene, which is unsurprising given the popularity of Fragonard's painting. It was likely made during the Rococo Revival in the late 19th and early 20th Century, when craftsmen replicated late 18th and early 19th Century French fashions and artistic endeavors, including the Gobelin tapestries this was clearly influenced by.
The cartoon - original drawing - for this tapestry may have been taken from a print source or designs influenced by paintings by the romantic French painters and contemporaries of Fragonard, like Francois Boucher or Jean-Antoine Watteau.
There is a history of tapestry manufacturers participating in World's Fairs in the late 19th and early 20th Century where they showed examples of the high-quality pieces they were able to make using the most up-to-date looms.
Tapestry manufacturers usually signed or labeled their tapestry panels in such a way that they are identified somehow but there are a good number of tapestry panels that have sold in recent years by unknown makers so as to provide the basis for a fair-market appraisal: ones of this general size and complexity have sold at auction for between $600-900; note this may be quite a bit less than any being offered by an antiques dealer or private seller, either through an online platform (eBay, 1stDibs or in a brick-and-mortar shop).
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A Rococo Revival Gobelin style wool tapestry panel
Probably French, possibly as early as late 19th but more likely early 20th Century
Depicting a wooded scene centering a woman on a swing surrounded by three men and a woman, framed. Unsigned; back of frame bearing framing label.
Tapestry: 50 by 35-1/4 inches; frame by Pittsford Picture Framing Co: 55-3/4 by 41-1/2 inches
CONDITION: This tapestry panel appears to be in generally good condition with some facing commensurate to age.
PROVENANCE: Acquired from an antique store in Rochester, N.Y.
$ 600-900*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
I am very disappointed in Mearto. In my description I stated my tapestry appears to be unique but in the same genre as Fragonard's L'escarpolette. Mine is obviously NOT related to Fragonard's painting. Fragonard's painting shows a woman kicking off her shoe while flirting with her young lover, Charles Collé. Her elderly husband is faded into the background. Fragonard's painting represents infidelity and rebellion. My tapestry has none of those themes. My tapestry has 5 people; apparently 2 happy couples and a female friend. No flirting. No adultery. No husband. No upskirt excitement. Yet you state: "This scene - as you rightly point out - replicates Fragonard's The Swing (French: L'Escarpolette),..."
You spent 10 seconds on this and tossed in cookie cutter text about an unrelated painting.
I paid to have MY tapestry appraised. Not to be given a blurb about some unrelated item. I’ll give you a second chance before I start posting reviews of Mearto.