Armchair (part of a set of nine) 1730 - 1765

This armchair was crafted in Aubusson, and features a tapestry with potent symbols. The bull, prominently displayed, carries millennia of significance. It echoes the power and virility of ancient Minoan bull-leaping rituals and the imposing presence of the Egyptian Apis bull, embodying strength and fertility. Consider how this symbol resurfaces through time. From the mythic Minotaur, a beast trapped in the labyrinth of human desires, to the Golden Calf, a symbol of misplaced faith. The bull morphs, reflecting our evolving relationship with primal instincts. Here, amidst the pastoral scene, the bull exists in harmony, not as a deity or monster, but as an echo of nature's force, domesticated for our comfort. These images evoke a sense of continuity, reminding us that the past is never truly gone.