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Medieval Unicorn Tapestries

Tapestry 7: The Unicorn in Captivity. This tapestry shows the unicorn alive and well, and entirely tamed. He is fenced in and chained to a tree, but the chain is less than secure and the fence is low enough to leap over. He has submitted to his captivity. The red stains on his flank, according to the Met, “do not appear to be blood, as there are no visible wounds like those in the hunting series; rather, they represent juice dripping from bursting pomegranates” — a medieval symbol of marriage and fertility. Many of the other plants represented here, such as wild orchid and thistle, echo this theme of marriage and procreation: they were acclaimed in the Middle Ages as fertility aids for both men and women.
Art

Mysterious Medieval Tapestries Depict Unicorn Hunt

By Kris MantyOct 24, 2021

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2-DAY AUCTION – 400+ VINTAGE SAFES & ANTIQUES

The Irving Isicoff Collection / International Museum of Safes will be sold at AUCTION on May 25th & 26th. Visit www.stamplerauctions.com to register and prebid. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that includes safes over 200 years old along with over 300 lots of antique scales, décor and more. Don’t miss it. See y’all there.