Les Balloons is one of the most impressive and significant tapestries by Alexander Calder that I have ever encountered. Beyond Calder’s iconic design, its importance is heightened by the fact that it was woven by Yvette Cauquil-Prince, widely regarded as the greatest tapestry weaver of the 20th century. Her extraordinary craftsmanship can be seen in the precision of the knotwork and the depth of the dyeing, which together achieve a vibrancy and texture that bring Calder’s floating balloons to life with a remarkable three-dimensional quality.

The bolduc indicates that this tapestry is the first of an edition of three. However, no record of the other editions has ever been traced, which strongly suggests that this may be a unique, one-of-a-kind example.

What makes this piece even more exceptional is that it is one of only a handful of Calder’s tapestry designs ever executed by Cauquil-Prince, and uniquely, this example is dated and  hand-signed by Calder himself. The tapestry remains in perfect condition, with its colors preserved in their full brilliance and intensity. Taken together, these qualities make Les Balloons not only a rarity, but a true museum-quality masterpiece—an irreplaceable work at the intersection of Calder’s artistic vision and Cauquil-Prince’s unparalleled mastery of the loom.