Tablecloth

Art Historical Context

This magnificent linen tablecloth, woven in 1609 by an Flemish or Dutch artisan, exemplifies the exquisite textile craftsmanship of the early 17th-century Low Countries. Measuring an impressive 127 by 80 inches—large enough to cover a grand banqueting table—it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, gifted in 1924 by Mrs. Herbert L. Satterlee. Its woven design incorporates heraldic motifs, including lions, men, coats of arms, symbols of nobility, strength, and lineage that would have adorned the homes of prosperous families. In the context of ...