One of the oldest types of woven textiles is the tapestry, which became well known during the Middle Ages. The tapestry is best defined as a thick material that has colored threads woven throughout it in order to create a picture or design. This is completely different than embroidery work.
During the Middle Ages, people used tapestries as curtains and around doors to keep out the cold. They were also used decoratively around the house and as bed canopies that would stop falling objects from dropping directly onto the bed. If the tapestry was large enough, it would cascade down the sides of the bed as well, providing additional privacy.
Those who could afford to live in mansions and castles used tapestries in order to separate some of the larger rooms into smaller living areas. Many were created as testaments to Bible histories and victorious battles. Very often, kings and others carried tapestries on their journeys in order to advertise their wealth. The exquisite and intricate designs woven into them made them highly sought after as works of art.
The process of creating a tapestry is a complicated and lengthy one. In the beginning a painter will sketch the design, called a cartoon. Then the weavers will extract the required dyes from plants and other sources and dye the threads to be used in the design. After all the treads are finally ready, a number of weavers will work together to complete the design. Sometimes it takes months to finish a square foot of tapestry for a skilled weaver. The tapestry weaving is a craft passed down from one generation to another. The tapestries were also of enormous size and some were known to be 20 feet high and 80 feet wide.
Some of the most common tapestries portrayed scenes of landscapes, hunting and fishing expeditions, and battles. There were even kings who had artists on the battlefield with them so that the trip could be captured and later put on a tapestry. As designs became more and more intricate, some tapestries would end up having over 300 different colors on them, looking much more like an oil painting.
Prior to the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Paris was the source of the highest quality tapestries. During the war, however, many weavers had to flee France, and a good number of tapestries were destroyed or lost. When peace finally settled on the land once again, weavers again took up the trade and flourished until the dawn of the French Revolution in 1789. During that upheaval, tapestries were often burned and looted for gold and silver threads.
In 1801, weaver Joseph Jacquard revolutionized the production of tapestries with the invention of the Jacquard loom, which utilized a process involving punch cards. These cards allowed textile looms to operate more efficiently by controlling the weaving process. This allowed even less skilled workers to create some of the most intricate designs ever seen. While trained personnel were still needed to operate the looms, the process became much easier, and ordinary people were finally able to own tapestries of their own.
Our museums from around the world house these famous works-of-art of the hand-woven tapestry wall hangings. It is believed the Medieval tapestries are the largest group on display, today. The price for a hand-woven tapestry wall hanging is immense. There is still much work involved in making these fine woven goods with the Jacquard loom, however the time involved is not nearly what it once was and therefore making them quite affordable.
We should thank Joseph Marie Jacquard for his invention of his fine loom, as this allows for the continued creation of these beautiful woven fabrics at affordable prices. This opens the market for many, many more to take advantage of this opportunity to own their own tapestry wall decor. It truly is a delightful way to display stylish and sophisticated works-of-art in our very own home. Enjoy. - 15252
During the Middle Ages, people used tapestries as curtains and around doors to keep out the cold. They were also used decoratively around the house and as bed canopies that would stop falling objects from dropping directly onto the bed. If the tapestry was large enough, it would cascade down the sides of the bed as well, providing additional privacy.
Those who could afford to live in mansions and castles used tapestries in order to separate some of the larger rooms into smaller living areas. Many were created as testaments to Bible histories and victorious battles. Very often, kings and others carried tapestries on their journeys in order to advertise their wealth. The exquisite and intricate designs woven into them made them highly sought after as works of art.
The process of creating a tapestry is a complicated and lengthy one. In the beginning a painter will sketch the design, called a cartoon. Then the weavers will extract the required dyes from plants and other sources and dye the threads to be used in the design. After all the treads are finally ready, a number of weavers will work together to complete the design. Sometimes it takes months to finish a square foot of tapestry for a skilled weaver. The tapestry weaving is a craft passed down from one generation to another. The tapestries were also of enormous size and some were known to be 20 feet high and 80 feet wide.
Some of the most common tapestries portrayed scenes of landscapes, hunting and fishing expeditions, and battles. There were even kings who had artists on the battlefield with them so that the trip could be captured and later put on a tapestry. As designs became more and more intricate, some tapestries would end up having over 300 different colors on them, looking much more like an oil painting.
Prior to the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Paris was the source of the highest quality tapestries. During the war, however, many weavers had to flee France, and a good number of tapestries were destroyed or lost. When peace finally settled on the land once again, weavers again took up the trade and flourished until the dawn of the French Revolution in 1789. During that upheaval, tapestries were often burned and looted for gold and silver threads.
In 1801, weaver Joseph Jacquard revolutionized the production of tapestries with the invention of the Jacquard loom, which utilized a process involving punch cards. These cards allowed textile looms to operate more efficiently by controlling the weaving process. This allowed even less skilled workers to create some of the most intricate designs ever seen. While trained personnel were still needed to operate the looms, the process became much easier, and ordinary people were finally able to own tapestries of their own.
Our museums from around the world house these famous works-of-art of the hand-woven tapestry wall hangings. It is believed the Medieval tapestries are the largest group on display, today. The price for a hand-woven tapestry wall hanging is immense. There is still much work involved in making these fine woven goods with the Jacquard loom, however the time involved is not nearly what it once was and therefore making them quite affordable.
We should thank Joseph Marie Jacquard for his invention of his fine loom, as this allows for the continued creation of these beautiful woven fabrics at affordable prices. This opens the market for many, many more to take advantage of this opportunity to own their own tapestry wall decor. It truly is a delightful way to display stylish and sophisticated works-of-art in our very own home. Enjoy. - 15252
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Wall Art by Famous Artists - Think Tapestries! Everyone wanted the tapestries of the familiar and famed artists works from around the world to accent the walls in their home.
