America
Pierre van der Borcht (d.1763)
Category
Tapestries
Date
1750
Materials
Wool
Measurements
3450 x 5130 mm
Place of origin
Belgium
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire
NT 960144.1
Summary
One of a set of tapestries woven in Brussels by the Van der Borght manufactory around 1750. This example is from a series showing continents of the world (America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Feast of the Continents) and shows the Americas. A quay scene (after Teniers) shows ships unloading in a harbour, various figures and examples of flora and fauna, including tortoises and armadillos on the left. Signed with Brussels town mark and P.V.D. Borcht. In pole and with foliage narrow borders. Acquired by Charles Winn to hang in this room by his decorator, Thomas Ward, in 1822-4. Two others from the 'continents' series were also acquired for Nostell: The Feast of the Continents and Europe (this destroyed in a fire in 1920).
Provenance
The present tapestries in the Tapestry Room (excluding that on the south wall) were purchased in France in 1818 by Warren H. White, an acquaintance of Charles Winn. White claimed that they had originally been intended for the King of Wurtemburg, and that he had been offered £1,200 for them in Brussels. He implied that he wished to give the tapestries to Winn as a mark of respect to his, `dearest Friend and Benefactor’ [NP/A1/8/23/1], probably because it was illegal to export goods for sale. However, he was constantly short of money and later claimed that Winn owed him the sum of £2,500. Thomas Ward’s bills [NP/C3/1/5/6/8] indicate that the tapestries had arrived at Nostell by 1822, but White and Winn continued wrangling over their price until at least 1828. In June 1828, White’s brother-in-law advised Winn to submit the matter to arbitration. We do not know how it was eventually resolved. [see Brockwell, p.349-50 & NP/A1/8/23/1].
Makers and roles
Pierre van der Borcht (d.1763)