DescriptionElaborating on the account in the Book of Kings (1 Kings 10:1-3), this tapestry depicts the Queen of Sheba standing before Solomon and posing a riddle concerning the apparently identical flowers in her hand and the indistinguishable children before her. She asks, "Tell me, King, whether the flowers and children are of the same or different kind." Solomon replies, "The bee does not pass up a good flower; kneeling shows the female style," indicating that a bee will fly to the real flower and that the girl is the child who kneels to gather fruit in her skirt.

 

 

The depictions of Solomon and Sheba echo the compositions of some late-fifteenth-century prints. The tapestry, however, is enlivened by color, texture, and background details. There are gilt and metallic threads in the queen's sleeves, the king's crown, scepter, and finial, and both figures' belts. The textures of the queen's gown and mantle are rendered with knots that were tied with wool and then cut. This technique is associated with Strasbourg workshops, an attribution strengthened by the form of German in the inscriptions. The tapestry was probably used as a wall hanging or cushion cover.

Signatures, Inscriptions, and MarkingsInscriptions: Queen: Bescheyd mich kunig ob bluomen und kind Glich an art oder unglich sint (trans.: Tell me, king, if flowers and children are like, or unlike in their kind) Solomon: Die bine ein guote bluom nit splart das knuwen zoigt die wiplich art (trans.: The bee does not miss a real flower. Kneeling shows the female sex.)

ProvenanceEx colls.: In the collection of J. Pierpont Morgan from before 1906 to 1916. With French and Company, New York, briefly, in 1916. In the collection of W. Hinckle Smith, Philadelphia, from 1916 to 1970. Property of French and Company, New York, 1970 to 1971. Purchased by the M. M. A., The Cloisters Collection, 1971.