Tapestry Wall Hangings & Cushions

Tapestry: Warming Homes for Centuries          

 Tapestries have adorned the walls of castles and nobleman’s homes for thousands of years, but these days, this beautiful textile art is available to everyone. The rich look of a tapestry hanging on the wall cannot be rivalled by any other piece of art and adds a special touch to the feel of any room in the house. Tapestry is an art that creates warmth in the home.  

Originally, tapestry was a favourite adornment because of its wonderful portability. Royalty often moved between castles throughout the year and they could easily take their wall art with them. However, the elegant tapestries served another purpose in the draughty stone halls of the royal palace back then. Having a heavy fabric hanging on the wall helped block out chilly air during winter in an age when fireplaces were the only source of indoor heating.  

Back in the early days, tapestry designs were often done by well-known artists who would design on paper and then pass it on to a craftsman who would convert the drawing into a beautiful textile piece. These preliminary designs on paper or cardboard are called cartoons, though they are really art in themselves. The cartoons serve as a guide for the weaver to create the tapestry from. This is where the colour choices for the weft threads come from and the order in which they must be incorporated into the fabric. 

The detail of art tapestries was, and still is, amazing. Many of these textile pieces use a variety of threads, ranging from cotton warps to gold and silver thread that will add a special touch to the weaving. The intricate balance of colours and threads to create a picture is done by hiding all warp threads (the base thread that is set up on the loom ahead of time). With only the weft threads showing, the art appears without interruption. The process is truly a remarkable one, but it is a dying art. Only a few small factories and hobby weavers continue creating true tapestries, though you will likely find plenty of embroidered ones on the market.

While tapestries have been around since 3^rd century BC, the wall hangings that we now identify as tapestry evolved around 1400 AD, when they began to be produced in large numbers. One of the most renowned towns for the best weaving was Arras, France. The town created thousands of beautiful art pieces. Most of these tapestries no longer exist since gold thread was used to highlight images in them. During the French Revolution, the majority of French tapestries were burned to recover the gold. However, this era left its mark on the history of woven art, many pieces are still referred to as Arras tapestry, though they may have been woven elsewhere.  

Since the 13^th century, tapestries have been produced in larger quantities, often in factories. These days, most textile art is created in European factories, on machines. However, it is still possible to find hand woven tapestries, each one a little different from the next. These are still the best quality available and since they are created unique, handmade tapestries are usually priced higher. It is worth it to have a true piece of history on your wall, though.

Tapestry is an ancient tradition, used by the highest classes in each civilization. Though it is now something that nearly anyone can use, the richness and elegance of real tapestry remains. Whether you buy a new or antique tapestry wall hanging, it is sure to warm the walls of any room you hang it in.