History of Tapestries
Tapestries have been woven for hundreds of years in diverse cultures, but it was the French medieval weavers who brought value, not just beauty, to this art form. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Church recognized the value of tapestries in illustrating Bible stories to its illiterate congregations. A hanging wall tapestry also became a status symbol to the aristocracy during the Middle Ages. Plus a wall tapestry was very practical— providing insulation for castle walls, covering openings, and giving privacy around beds. Kings and nobles took them on their travels from castle to castle for reasons of comfort and prestige.
In the beginning, estimates say that 15,000 people were employed in the tapestry craft. Many passed their skills from father to son. Medieval weavers extracted their dyes from plants and insects, producing about 20 different colors. Red, probably the most utilized color, came from poppies or pomegranates. Weavers used sketches which they freely adapted with imagination and sometimes humor. The most popular medieval images were Biblical stories, myths, allegories (the ever-popular unicorn represented purity), and contemporary scenes of peasants working or nobles hunting. Battle scenes were commissioned by victorious monarchs.
In 1663, during the lavish reign of Louis XIV, a tapestry factory was founded in Paris and employed over 800 artisans— mostly to make tapestries for the royal court that incorporated valuable gold and silver threads. Other European countries followed, opening factories on behalf of their rulers. In 1804, the Jacquard mechanical loom was invented which fed colored yarns to the shuttle. It enabled tapestries to become accessible to a wider market and it still forms the basis of tapestry-making techniques used today. By the late 1800s, about 14,000 color tones were available.
Today, few tapestries are hand-woven. Most are reproductions of originals in museums. Modern yarns and techniques allow us to enjoy superlative copies of works of art at affordable prices (often cheaper than a framed print). Even with modern technology, though, much work is still required to produce a beautiful hanging wall tapestry, especially in the design processes. But it's all well worth the effort considering the endless choices for adorning walls and personalizing our homes. Browse through over 1,700 wall tapestries here!
In the beginning, estimates say that 15,000 people were employed in the tapestry craft. Many passed their skills from father to son. Medieval weavers extracted their dyes from plants and insects, producing about 20 different colors. Red, probably the most utilized color, came from poppies or pomegranates. Weavers used sketches which they freely adapted with imagination and sometimes humor. The most popular medieval images were Biblical stories, myths, allegories (the ever-popular unicorn represented purity), and contemporary scenes of peasants working or nobles hunting. Battle scenes were commissioned by victorious monarchs.
In 1663, during the lavish reign of Louis XIV, a tapestry factory was founded in Paris and employed over 800 artisans— mostly to make tapestries for the royal court that incorporated valuable gold and silver threads. Other European countries followed, opening factories on behalf of their rulers. In 1804, the Jacquard mechanical loom was invented which fed colored yarns to the shuttle. It enabled tapestries to become accessible to a wider market and it still forms the basis of tapestry-making techniques used today. By the late 1800s, about 14,000 color tones were available.
Today, few tapestries are hand-woven. Most are reproductions of originals in museums. Modern yarns and techniques allow us to enjoy superlative copies of works of art at affordable prices (often cheaper than a framed print). Even with modern technology, though, much work is still required to produce a beautiful hanging wall tapestry, especially in the design processes. But it's all well worth the effort considering the endless choices for adorning walls and personalizing our homes. Browse through over 1,700 wall tapestries here!
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Jacquard Weaving
The manufacture of a hanging tapestry can be analyzed in four stages. In order to guarantee a high quality product, the whole of the staff must be intransigent on the quality of the services carried out. One mistake can jeopardize the final result of the tapestry. These are the four stages of the manufacture of Jacquard tapestries:Creation. Whether working from a medieval or contemporary design, the creator usually starts with a sketch, then transcribes the colors and contours for the weaving. Warping. Production starts in the warping workshop. It is the weaving preparation. Thousands of dyed threads are put on on enormous reels called rollers. These threads will form the warp of the tapestry. The warper arranges the various colored threads, side by side, in a set order. Surrounded by a multitude of reels, the skilled weaver knows each thread and allots it to its place according to the motif being produced. Weaving. The tapestry is the result of the intersection (or interlacing) of two kinds of threads: warp threads laid out lengthways (warping) and weft threads laid out crossways (weaving).Finition. Each hanging wall tapestry is finished with rod pockets, backings, eyelets, and sometimes even decorative borders in preparation for displaying on your wall.
Browse through over 1,700 wall tapestries by clicking here!
Browse through over 1,700 wall tapestries by clicking here!
