Tapestry ‘after the Indian manner’, the 17th-century term used for a particular decorative style with Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and other non-European elements. It is woven in silk and wool with the mark of English manufacture and the name M.MAZARIND in its border.
The tapestry depicts small groups of oriental figures and buildings, exotic creatures and plants. The figures are arranged on separate islands floating on a dark blue ground, small in scale at the top, and becoming larger lower down, creating a distinct foreground to the tapestry. While this arrangement is common to all Indian Manner tapestries, the style and content of this tapestry are particular to Mazarind’s workshop, especially obvious in the curious tent-like buildings, some of the figures and their garments, and the type of palm tree with long thin leaves. The signature ‘M.MAZ[reversed]ARIND’ appears on the lower border, and the England mark of a red cross on a white shield on the right border. The border, originally brown, is scattered with small items, mainly blue and white porcelain, with a dragon and long-tailed birds at the corners.