'JANUARY', A MONTHS OF THE YEAR TAPESTRY

Emblematic of January, depicting a couple warming their hands by a blazing fire, with a chained monkey in a niche above a cockerel and hen, surrounded by a floral border, 206.5cm wide x 256cm high

Provenance: 

Gifted to the present owner's great grandfather as a wedding present circa 1850, reputedly from Thomas H. Woods, who became a partner in 1859 to form Christie, Manson and Woods.

This tapestry is part of a larger series depicting the Twelve Months of the Year, a popular subject in England from the 17^th century with earlier precedents designed and woven in Northern European workshops, including Flanders and Brussels. An example of ‘January’ is part of a group of three, originally eight, commissioned by Charles I in 1623 from the Mortlake Tapestry Factory, now in the Royal Collection (inventory RCIN64108). In comparison, this example is woven in reverse with various other intriguing differences, including the monkey within the niche, cockerel and hen, probably of regional religious significance.   

Condition report:

- Probably woven in wool and silk
- Later backed
- Numerous tears, patches of repair and fading throughout