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Not only were medieval tapestries works of courtly elegance with rich fabric, they also had a practical use. A wall tapestry provided excellent insulation for castle walls, covered openings, and gave privacy around beds. Kings and nobles took their family tapestry on their travels from castle to castle for reasons of comfort and prestige. One's tapestries were a symbol as much as an item for practical use.
There were many different types of wall tapestries in the Middle Ages just as there are today. One of the most popular then and now is the unicorn tapestry. These are pieces that lean toward the mythological.
The unicorn is a animal that has changed in appearance over the many thousands of years of it first being recorded. In the Middle Ages the unicorn was thought of as being a strong and fierce animal associated with chastity and virginity (and it could only be captured by a virgin) and also with Christ's love of mankind. It was during this time that unicorn tapestries began to become a popular wall hanging.
One of the most sought after of these wall tapestries is actually a set called The Lady and the Unicorn series. This set of 6 tapestries hangs in the Cluny Museum in France. Each tapestry is a depiction of on the of the senses. Taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing and desire.
Some other popular styles are:
Romantic Tapestries
Romantics, also called pastorals, are known for their depiction of couples and groups conversing, courting, reading together, making merriment, and romancing. Popular in the mid 1700's and through the 19th century, romantic tapestries tend to have lighter and brighter colors, ranging from pastels to the bolder primary colors. Some romantic tapestries are whimsical, while others are recognizable enduring classics. These tapestries are perfect in any room for those who are lovers at heart.
Jaquard Tapestries
Jacquard looms are mechanical looms developed by Joseph Marie Jacquard during the early 1800's. The Jacquard loom operates on cards with punched out patterns that direct the position of each thread in a tapestry. Though tapestries woven on a Jacquard loom are machine made, they are manually directed from start to finish. An artist works from the original tapestry, first to determine the reproduced tapestry's final sizing, and second, to paint a replica of the tapestry in that size. The hand painted grid matrix includes the minute details of the original tapestry. The next step involves creating the punch cards. The punched positions on the cards correspond directly to the hand painting's colors and forms. The punch cards control all the threads of the warp and weft. Before weaving begins, an artist/weaver threads the correct mix of colored threads that correspond to coordinates on the punch cards. The relationship between cards, threads, and colors are tested and modified several times until the weaver achieves the perfect match of the desired tapestry.
Finished Jacquard tapestries beautifully display the woven texture of an original tapestry. An added plus is that the Jacquard weaving style makes these tapestries durable and affordable.
Renaissance Tapestries
Our Renaissance Collection includes numerous tapestries from the 15th century to the present period. Generally, you will find people in these tapestries, including godly legends, but these do not include romantic scenes or Verdures. Our Renaissance Collection shows tapestries in which the cartoonist and weaver appreciated and could implement the mastered art of perspective.
Tapestry production was an art form and industry of its own and a Tapissier or mill owner, and his artist cartoonist were now challenged to produce cartoons with perspective. Again the weavers were challenged and experimented with their old techniques until they achieved perspective tapestry weaving as well. Some tapestries, even later works, are difficult to place in our limited specific categories. If you are a tapestry enthusiast, you will find many of these tapestries expressing the height of human feelings evoked by the Renaissance era.
Floral Tapestries
Our floral collection is vast and varied. It includes everything from traditional still lifes to more contemporary floral arrangements. Floral Tapestries also often include decorative vertical panels with garlands, wreaths, small scenes, and lush foliage. Floral arrangements with their universal themes are always a cherished and endearing gift. A floral tapestry will brighten and warm any room, regardless of the time of year.
The history of tapestry weaving is as rich and intricate as the threads that bind them.
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