Tapestries Through The Ages

By Author: Mike Smith
Total Articles: 102
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The history of tapestries can be traced back to at least the 3rd B.C. century across varied world cultures. However, tapestry as an art form was brought to a point of culmination by the skilled French weavers of medieval times.

Circa 13th century, Roman Catholic churches in France adorned their walls with tapestries illustrating stories from the Bible, not as much to enhance aesthetic appeal as to preach to illiterate laypersons.

The Hundred Years War saw skilled weavers relocate to Belgium, which became a centre of specialists in fine wool tapestries. Soon, tapestries began to adorn palaces and castles across Europe. Besides acting as status symbols and portable comfort accessories, they performed the rather practical functions of providing insulation and covering openings. Frequent outbreaks of battles often resulted in tapestries transferring from the hands and homes of one aristocrat to another.

By the 16th century, Flanders, Oudenaarde, Brussels, Geraardsbergen and Enghein had become important centers of tapestry production.

During the reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century, the Les Gobelins ...
... factory was founded in Paris to produce tapestries for the royal court. Other European rulers followed this trend, with factories opening all over Europe to create exclusive tapestries for them. Specimens of the stunning Flemish tapestries produced during that period are found even today.

Few of the original French tapestries survived the French Revolution as hundreds were burnt to recover the precious gold thread that was often woven into them. However, the same revolution witnessed the genesis of the Jacquard Loom, the basic weaving loom on which subsequent machinery was modeled.

Modern tapestries owe much to the pioneer of 19th century's Arts and Crafts Movement in England, William Morris. His company made series of tapestries for residential as well as church use.

Today, most of the available tapestries are reproductions of their famous original counterparts displayed in museums. Heirloom European Tapestries is America's largest source for exquisite reproductions of museum classics woven into tapestries and wall hangings. Hundreds of such designs across categories like hand-woven, landscape, Renaissance, Gothic, William Morris, American Heritage and more, still created by dexterous European weavers, are available for perusal on their website, www.tapestries-inc.com.

The beauty and richness of tapestries offered on this site and their innate potential to turn into family heirlooms is unmatched, and the expert, personalized consultation along with delivery speed has resulted in the company building a strong and happy customer base. So, take your pick from a range of gorgeous tapestries to add a touch of class to your own home or workplace.

About the Author:

Heirloom European Tapestries is one of the leading providers of tapestries and fine hand woven wall hangings tapestries in USA. We offer tapestries of all kinds, right from floral tapestries to French tapestries.