Medieval Smell European Cushion Covers

Medieval Smell woven European tapestry cushion cover features one of the scenes from the "Lady and the Unicorn" series of Belgian tapestries. This striking work represents the sense of smell. Woven in the 16th century, “Smell (L' Odorat) III” shows the lady weaving a necklace of scented flowers, with her maidservant holding a basket of flowers for her. Her monkey smells one of the flowers that has dropped to the ground. This work was ordered by the Le Viste family and their coat of arms is shown on the two flags pictured in the tapestry as well as the shields on the animals. They were believed to have been commissioned to celebrate Jean Le Viste’s appointment to the court of Louis XI. Though the exact origin is mysterious, the use of the Mille Fleur style means it was probably woven in workshops in Flanders.