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27 Apr 2018

Falkland tapestries return from Belgium ablaze with colour

Written by Antonia Laurence-Allen (Curator, Edinburgh and East Region)
Detail in a tapestry showing two lovers in a forest, before and after cleaning
Detail showing two lovers in a forest before and after cleaning
The Trust collaborated with Hopetoun House Preservation Trust to send the tapestries to Belgium, where a state-of-the-art cleaning system for historical tapestries, patented by the Royal Manufacturers De Wit, removed a century of dirt. They left Falkland in February and we re-installed them just after Easter.

These Flemish verdure tapestries were woven in Belgium in the 17th century. Thanks to the cleaning, we can now fully appreciate the depth of colour, movement and richness of the imagery.

Tapestry Gallery, Falkland Palace
Tapestry Gallery, Falkland Palace
Detail in a tapestry illustrating lush green landscape, with ivy leaves winding around chunky branches.
Detail illustrating the lush green landscape
  • Detail of a hunting dog catching a bird, before cleaning

    Detail of a hunting dog catching a bird (before cleaning)

  • Detail in a tapestry of a hunting dog catching a bird, after cleaning

    Detail of a hunting dog catching a bird (after cleaning)

  • Detail in a tapestry of cattle, before cleaning

    Detail of cattle (before cleaning)

  • Detail in a tapestry of cattle after cleaning

    Detail of cattle (after cleaning)

  • Detail in a tapestry of an archer, before cleaning

    Detail of archer (before cleaning)

  • Detail in a tapestry of an archer, after cleaning

    Detail of archer (after cleaning)

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