This weaving is a fragment of an Upper Rhenish tapestry. It was made by an unknown artist in Basel, Switzerland. The materials used are wool on linen, as it is a tapestry weave. The weaving shows a mythical, lionlike beast being dragged on a leash, with flowers and plants growing in the background. The weaving is about beasts referenced in the Physiologus and medieval bestiaries. Such beasts represented vices, and the leashed beast in the tapestry symbolizes taming lustful impulses. The weaving was made circa 1420-30. This weaving was used as both decoration and insulation in homes.
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Weaving of Interest – Carol
![A part of a tapestry depicting a scaled beast with sharp teeth, four legs, and a flared tail. The beast has a leash around its neck. The weaving is largely in shades of dark blue, yellow, and green, with a splash of red in the upper left corner where there is a little bird.](wp-content/uploads/2021/09/HW-1-Weaving.jpg)