Triumph of Peace
Triumph of Peace is a tapestry designed by Belgian artist Peter Colfs (1906 – 1983). It was woven under the direction of Gaspard de Wit of Royal Manufacturers de Wit in Mechelen, Belgium. It is one of the largest tapestries ever woven, measuring 43 ? by 28 ? feet, and took 14 craftsmen operating a loom specially built for the manufacture of the tapestry to complete. The wool and jute used to make the tapestry could stretch nearly four times around the equator, with a total length of 94,000 miles.
The tapestry displays themes and symbols of peace, prosperity, and equality. In the center of the design the Dove of Peace approaches the Fountain of Goodwill. Views of the chief cities of the Member states line the borders. The predominant color is green, which is the universal symbol of life and living things, as well as the traditional color of peace.
The tapestry was presented to the United Nations on October 8th, 1954 by Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, Ferdinand van Langenhove and the United nations Secretary-General accepted it on behalf of the United Nations. It was later installed on the north wall of the delegates entrance to the General Assembly building.