Allegorical 'Millefleurs' Tapestry with Animals, c. 1530-1545, 138 7/8 x 157 3/4 in. (352.74 x 400.69 cm) (irregular), Wool, silk; tapestry weave, Belgium, 16th century, Millefleurs (thousand-flower) tapestries became popular in the late Middle Ages. Some contained flowers only; others, like this one, included animals and birds. Pictured here are common animals such as deer and rabbits as well as exotic creatures like the lion, leopard, and unicorn. They are symbolic as well as decorative. The unicorn, for example, represents either Christ or the Virgin Mary. The three clumps of rosebushes forming a triangle, allude to the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), while the barking hound (lower left) and wild falcon (top right) stand for the Devil or other evil forces.