Falcon

The art of falconing is depicted in this tapestry ‘Falcon’ detailing the rich and well tailored clothing of the Belgian hunters. Falconing or falconry was believed to have begun in Asia even before the Middle Ages and spread via the Oriental trade route via the Silk Road to the Arabian lands and then to central Europe including Belgium as shown here. It has often been described as a sport of kings as the royalty indulged in this sport throughout history. Here the falcon is trained from the falconer’s glove and is used in conjunction with the hound to hunt for prey. This medieval tapestry depicts the courtiers in their regal garment on horseback in the countryside enjoying a fine day outside, framed with an intricate border. This tapestry is backed with a lining and tunnel for ease of hanging.