18th century Aubusson tapestry

A very large French Aubusson tapestry made of wool and silk depicting possibly a landowner and a slave girl. The highly unusual scene is undoubtedly set on one of the Caribbean islands, and the landowner is teaching the slave girl how to graft a plant onto another plant.

The foliage resembles coco trees and other West Indian plants, and in the distance to the right of the tapestry one can see small dwellings.

We have been able to locate another exactly the same which hangs in the Chateau de Vallon (Hotel de Ville), in Vallon Pont D’Arc, France, entitled ‘La leçon de greffage’.

Circa 1720