Woven at the beginning of the 16th Century, this tapestry was produced in the Loire Valley in France. It forms part of a set of three tapestries known as the Noble Pastorale which depicts the pleasures and labours of the field. Here a piper is playing while two richly-dressed dancing couples are taking a recreation from their labours with the sheep, having hung their shepherd poles on the branches of the tree on the right. The subject is set against a beautiful mille-fleurs (thousand flowers) background, dotted with birds and animals, a style of decoration popular in tapestries of this medieval period, thought to have been inspired by the custom of strewing cut flowers on fte days. The coats of arms at the top of the tapestry are probably those of Thomas Bohier (d.1523), Chamberlain of the King of France, and his wife Catherine Briconnet (d.1526), who commissioned the tapestry to be woven, and who also built the beautiful Chteau de Chenonceau in France. The tapestry set was acquired by Le Louvre Museum in Paris in 1950. This beautiful tapestry is Silkscreened (also known as serigraphed) onto an irregularly woven fabric made from wool, cotton or linen. Considerable labour is required with this process including hand-painting to finish the details. Silk screen tapestries appear antiqued and aged giving them the look and feel of tapestries that hang in museums today. This tapestry is fully lined incorporating a sleeve along the top for hanging with a Hines hanging rod. Alternatively, this tapestry can be hung with a wooden batten which is a concealed method of hanging. Composition: Silk Screened Finish on reverse: This tapestry is fully backed with luxury cotton lining incorporating a sleeve along the top for hanging purposes.