We are excited
to announce our involvement in providing set decoration for the highly
anticipated BBC television drama Wolf
Hall. Adapted from the award-winning
novel by Hilary Mantel, the major six-part series will feature four
reproduction printed tapestries from Zardi & Zardi’s Unique Commissions
service and their Bespoke Collection.
(Eight seconds into the trailer is the Zardi & Zardi commission tapestry of Esther and Ahasuerus, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Commissioned in January 2014 by Company Pictures, we made replicas of three celebrated tapestries from the historic collection
at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London. As a registered licensee
of the museum, we were able to work closely with the V&A who
undertook a considerable amount of research to source each tapestry. Not only
did the enormous textiles have to match the correct historical period
(1510-1520) but they also needed to depict the mood of the production. Olivia
Stroud, Image Licensing Manager at the V&A, helped Company Pictures to make
their final selection, choosing the religious scene of Esther and
Ahasuerus as well as two tapestries from the Devonshire
Hunting series. In addition to these tapestries, Zardi & Zardi were
also commissioned to replicate the famous Salomon et la Reine de Saba tapestry
which were sourced from the Musée Grobet-Labadié in Marseille, France.
The project took full advantage of 21st century
technologies as it digitally manipulated the tapestry of Ether and Ahasuerus to meet the requirements of Wolf Hall's Artistic
Director. The tapestry plays a
prominent part during a scene with Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. The frame
shows Anne Boleyn holding her hands in a clasp position; the tapestry was
edited to portray Esther holding her
hands in the same clasp, as well as editing her hair and eye colourings to
match those of Anne Boleyn’s.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(Ether and Ahasuerus tapestry)
Zardi & Zardi Edited Tapestry:
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
(Zardi & Zardi edited Ether and Ahasuerus tapestry - note the hands are higher and in a different position).
Using state of the art techniques and equipment, the replicas were
then printed onto drops of Belgium linen and hand stitched together to create
vast wall hangings, which can be seen throughout the Wolf Hall drama series.
“It was a very enjoyable project
and presented some exciting challenges”, says
Zardi & Zardi Director PJ Keeling,
“The most notable for me was the sourcing of the original ‘Salomon et la Reine
de Saba’; as this tapestry is referenced throughout the novel, it was of great importance
that we found the correct piece. Our investigations lead us to a museum in the
South of France, which had a very good example of the tapestry. But
to our dismay, we also discovered that the museum was closed for major
renovation work! However, in the end we managed to negotiate access and the
finished result is marvellous”.
Staring Mark
Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as Henry VIII of England and Claire
Foy as Anne Boleyn. Wolf Hall will
broadcast weekly on BBC Two from the 21st January 2015 at 9pm for
six weeks.
Also featured
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The Devonshire Hunting Series - The Bears
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The Devonshire Hunting Series - The Swans
Let us know what you think of Wolf Hall and if you spotted the tapestries!
