"TEXTILES OF KINGS."

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11347, 9 August 1902, Page 12

"TEXTILES OF KINGS."

£250,000 WORTH OF TAPESTRY FOR THE ABBEY.

SomeUhing like a quarter of a million pounds' -worth of tapestry will be used in the new Coronation Hall, and in Westminster Abbey itself, at the Coronation. The hall, the exterior of which has been so successfully toned down with the semblance of age that it looks like a portion of the old abbey itself, is to have a most interesting interior. Under the able hand of Mr Guy Laking, the keeper of the King's Armoury, the .inside of the building will be given the appearance of an old baronial hall. Ancient armour will adorn the walls between the medieval windows, helmet and breastplate and sword will be quaintly disposed in proper positions here and there, and the walls themselves will have very much the appearance of ancient oak. Rich historic tapestries, some of the most precious in existence, will adorn this ball and the "theatre" in which the actual •Coronation takes' place. One is a supei'b piece of Flemish tapestry, worth by itself £100,000. Indeed, this sum was actually paid for it when it changed hands some time ago. The superb piece of Flemish tapestry mentioned will adorn the Coronation Hall, in which the Royal procession will be formed in readiness for its stately progress down the nave to the place of the crownin _. It is profusely enriched with gold thread and gives a pictorial representation of the marriage of Queen Esther with King Ahasiierus. Several centuries ago it formed one of a set which belonged to the Spanish Government, and it adorned the Royal Palace at Madrid down to the time of Louis XIV., when it was carried away into France and came into the custody of the great Cardinal Mazarin. From his descendants it was purchased by Messrs Duveen, and recently sold again by them. It is considered by connoisseurs to be the greatest masterpiece of its kind in existence.