Rare, Noble Coat of Arms Tapestry, Order of Santiago, Trogner Family, C. 1650

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This rare coat of arms tapestry, which was hand-woven circa 1650, originated in the lands that would eventually become Belgium. … Read more This rare coat of arms tapestry, which was hand-woven circa 1650, originated in the lands that would eventually become Belgium. The beautiful and vibrant tapestry would have been commissioned by a Spanish nobleman, most likely Antonio Carnero Trogner.

In the center of the tapestry is a rural village surrounded by a verdant forest beneath a blue sky filled with white clouds and a swag of bows. A large coat of arms surmounts the tranquil pastoral scene, infusing the tapestry with vivid red and blue hues. The red shield is emblazoned with two rams on opposing sizes of a bend dexter of blue and cream with three fleur de lys charges. Behind the heraldic display is a red cruciform, known as the Cross of Saint James, which is the insignia of the Order of Santiago, a Spanish religious and military order formed in the 12th century. Further research indicates that the coat of arms belongs to the Trogner Family, specifically the Carnero branch. Carnero is Spanish for ram, and there are a few rams seen roaming the fields of the village, in addition to the two depicted on the shield. Beyond the aforementioned imagery is a thick gold boundary adorned with rinceaux and large blue, green, red, gold, and brown flowers, surrounded by a thin border of tan.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain controlled much of what would eventually become Belgium. Antonio Carnero Trogner was born in 1568 in Brussels to a family that had already become well-entrenched in Belgium. Antonio would become valet to King Philip IV of Spain in 1626, later assuming a second and as important title of Secretary to the Count-Duke of Olivares, one of King Philip’s valids. In 1636, Antonio was knighted by the Order of Santiago, offering validation of his noble bloodline. Our Trogner family tapestry would make a wonderful addition to any wall while offering a bit of history. See less