HERALDIC TAPESTRY KNOWN AS THE "REPOSTERO" WITH THE ARMS OF A SPANISH FAMILY Spain, probably 17th century Woven in wool and silk Dimensions: 277 x 229 cm (109 x 90 ¼ in.) Comparative bibliography: M. T. Cruz Yabar, La tapiceria en Madrid (1570-1640), 1996, Tabapress ; A. G. Bennett, Five Centuries of Tapestry from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 1992. A heraldic tapestry said "repostero" with the coat of arms of a Spanish family, Spain, probably 17th century This rare and interesting tapestry is flanked by the coat of arms of a Spanish family. It belongs to the type of heraldic tapestry known as Repostero, a genre that developed in Spanish workshops in the 16th and 17th centuries, mainly in Madrid and Salamanca, under the initial impetus of Philip II of Spain (1527-1598). One name stands out in this context: Pedro Gutiérrez, the king's weaver and one of the founders of the Santa Isabel royal factory. The aim of setting up a royal factory in Madrid was to compete with the Flemish centres, whose productions dominated the European market. This tapestry, which is probably from a later period, could testify to this marvellous boom in Spanish tapestry, but also to its clientele. Madrid's notables placed numerous orders for these Reposteros, whose central coat of arms was generally accompanied by decorative motifs and sober colours. Here, the coat of arms, bordered by cut-out leather, is surmounted by a helmet adorned with two-tone feathers. The blue background, which has retained some of its intensity, is flanked by motifs of falling cabbage leaves wrapped in ribbons, harmoniously following the shape of the shield. It should be noted, however, that Flemish weavers appropriated these heraldic tapestries, which makes it difficult to attribute this example to Spanish weavers. The borders are decorated with cut leather, cartouches, vases of flowers and stylised fruit, and shields on the spandrels.