Replica Tapestries Featured in BBC Two Series Wolf Hall

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 21^st 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.

Original tapestry:                    

© 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 21^st 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!