18th c. Large Tapestry - Le Tigre

They don’t make wall art like this anymore. This 18th-century French tapestry, known as Le Tigre, captures the drama of an imagined Eastern hunt where a tiger prowls through stylized foliage as elegantly dressed figures ready their weapons. Tiger motifs like this were rarely seen in French decorative arts of the time, making this rare, large-scale piece even more extraordinary. It reflects a period when European artists, particularly tapestry designers at workshops like Beauvais and Gobelins, drew on exotic and romantic imagery to evoke a sense of Oriental grandeur, even if filtered through creative interpretation.

Small tears and loose threads show its journey through time, and only deepen its authenticity. Whether displayed in a great hall, dining room, or drawn room, this tapestry transforms the space into something cinematic, like a scene from a lost château.