Belgium Presents Tapestry to the United Nations

The principles on which the United Nations Charter is based - Peace, Prosperity and Equality - are vividly represented in a huge, specially designed and woven tapestry which was presented to the United Nations today by Ambassador Fernand van Langenhove, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the U.N., as ""an expression of the profound attachment of the Belgian people to the ideals and work of the international organisation"". Measuring 43-1/2 by 28-1/2 feet, it is the largest tapestry ever woven and is the work of 14 Belgian artist craftsmen who put together 94,000 miles of yarn to create it. It was designed by Peter Colfs, an Antwerp artist, who took top honours in a nationwide competition in which over 100 artists participated. In the centre of the design, the Dove of Peace approaches the Fountain of Good Will. The borders are enriched with views of the chief cities of Member States of the United Nations, the predominant colour being green, the universal symbol of life and living things, and the traditional colour of peace.
This photograph shows a section of the huge tapestry as U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld (left), who received it on behalf of the United Nations, and Ambassador Fernand van Langenhove examined it after the presentation ceremony.