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For the first time in 37 years, tapestries commissioned by Israel from world-renowned artist Marc Chagall were taken off the walls of parliament on Monday and sent for cleaning.
The three tapestries, commissioned from the Belarusian-born and Paris-based Jewish artist in 1965 and completed four years later, hung on the walls of the lobby of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset.
But after 37 years, the tapestries -- worth an estimated 5.5 million dollars -- had lost most of their vibrant colours and their condition had deteriorated.
A parliament statement said the hangings were removed from the Knesset walls and sent for restoration to the Gobelin tapestry factory in Paris where they were woven.
The Knesset's administrative director, Avi Belshinkov, said: "It is unbecoming that the Knesset receive a gift from such a prominent artist and not know how to properly preserve the priceless work of art."
Chagall died in 1985 in France.
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AFP 041858 GMT 09 06
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