A RARE ENGLISH NEEDLEWORK ARMORIAL TAPESTRY CIRCA 1697-1709 Decorated to the centre with armorial for Sir Nathaniel Napier (1636-1709), 2nd Baronet of Middle Marsh and to the spandrels with crest and cypher for his second wife Susanna Guise by his marriage in 1697, gros and petit point work approximately 292cm high, 160cm wideProvenance:From the estate of Henry Lane Eno (1871-1928) and by descent to the current owner.Sir Nathaniel Napier travelled extensively in Europe in his early years and after his marriage in 1697 resumed his travels visiting France and Italy, 1701 Holland, 1704 Rotterdam and Hanover and 1706 Spa, Belgium. It is likely that the tapestry was created during these travels- or at home by an émigré Huguenot craftsman. The Guise family home, Elmore Court in Gloucestershire retains the wrought iron main gates, originally from Rendcombe. They display the same decorative design of the Guise emblem, the swan surmounted cypher, as this tapestry.Needlework carpets and hangings are an uncommon survivor from this date owing to the inherent fragility of their nature during everyday household life and use. The tradition of needlework, more commonly seen in chair coverings and small worked pieces, existed in England and Northern Europe through the production of 'table carpets'. There seems in this example to be a conscious emulation of the form of Chinese and Persian carpets-with the central design within roughly symmetrical floral background and spandrels. However, table carpets were designed as in the landscape view- whereas this is presented in a portrait format. Research to date has yet to reveal similar hangings from this period of this scale or quality.ARMORIALThe blazon: argent, A saltire engrailed between three roses gules, seeded gules, inset the mark of a baronet (Nisbet) - impaling - gules, seven lozenges vaire cojoined (3:3:1), on a canton or, a spur-rowel of six points sable (Guise assumed from de Burgh) crest: issuant from a ducal coronet or, a plume of ostrich feathers (Nisbet) supporters: two eagles closed proper (Nisbet) Motto: MAJOR PROVIDENT FAI - Notably the motto widely used by the NISBET family, lately of Pennard House, Somerset, is FATO PRUDENTIA MAJOR, from whom decadency of the 2nd Baronet is assumed, is either an update or an error made at the time of the tapestry's production.