Princely treasures: Tapestries - The Scholar before the Great Mogul - Liechtenstein 2018 - 180 Rappen

This issue continues the popular series depicting treasures from the collections of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Three impressive tapestries made at the manufactory of Jean Barraband II in the early 18th century were selected as motifs: “The Tea Ceremony” (face value: CHF 1.00), “Audience with the Emperor of China” (face value: CHF 1.50) and “The Scholar before the Great Mogul” (face value: CHF 1.80). Jean Barraband was born in Aubusson in 1677 where his father and grandfather were already working as tapestry weavers. When the freedom of religion was revoked in France, the Barraband family, who were Huguenots, fled the country and settled in Berlin in 1686. Jean II followed the family tradition and after his father’s death, he took over his studio in 1709. The famous “Chinese series” with motifs from the Far East was made at this time. In many ways these reflected the originals from the French tapestry makers in Beauvais, which also applies to the tapestry entitled “Audience with the Emperor of China” measuring 319 times 554 centimetres. Besides serving as decoration, the elaborate tapestries served practical purposes, such as thermal insulation or to improve the acoustics in large rooms.