Aubusson Tapestry Value Guide

This antique Aubusson tapestry, dating from 1880-1920, represents the transition of French weaving into exotic, global themes inspired by the era of exploration. Unlike royal Gobelins works, these privately commissioned wool tapestries from the Creuse valley are prized for their intricate flat-weave technique and vivid pastoral-turned-jungle narratives.

What Is Aubusson Tapestry Worth?

The typical price range for Aubusson Tapestry is $2,500 - $3,000 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The complexity and rarity of the jungle motif compared to more common classical or pastoral scenes.
• The physical condition of the wool fibers, specifically the absence of dry rot or significant fading from sunlight.
• The overall dimensions of the piece, as larger wall-hanging jungle scenes command the higher end of the $2,500 - $3,000 range.
• Provenance linking the piece to its original French origin and the specific 1880-1920 production period.

How to Identify Aubusson Tapestry?

• Examine the weave for the signature flat-woven texture characteristic of the Aubusson workshops in France.
• Verify the material is 100% wool, which provides the specific matte finish and durability found in late 19th-century examples.
• Look for the distinct color palette of the 1880-1920 era, which often utilized rich greens and earth tones to depict dense foliage and wildlife.
• Check the reverse side for hand-stitched transitions between colors, a hallmark of authentic French private workshop production.

History of Aubusson Tapestry

Aubusson tapestries originated in the town of Aubusson in the Creuse valley of France. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, Aubusson became renowned for its flat-woven rugs and tapestries, often commissioned by French nobility and royalty. Unlike Gobelins tapestries, which were produced in a royal factory, Aubusson workshops were privately owned. Their designs frequently featured classical motifs, pastoral scenes, and later, more exotic themes inspired by global exploration, such as the jungle scene depicted here.