Dealers -> Textiles-Linens -> Tapestries
A wall tapestry can be a beautiful addition to your home, whether it’s a reproduction or an antique piece. A tapestry is much more than a woven cloth that covers the wall, it’s often a piece of history that tells a story, and speaks about the period in which it was created. The weaving used to make tapestries was considered one of the major art forms in ancient times, and while many new, modern tapestries are done with machines and focus more on the design than the craftsmanship, you can still find reproductions that are done painstakingly by hand in much the same way original tapestries were created.
Entire stories were told in wall tapestry in times past. Homer’s works were represented in tapestry form, as were other important books, stories from the Bible, and major historical events. Castles and compounds often displayed tapestries, as the aristocracy often owned hundreds of them. Tapestries were status symbols, speaking of wealth and affluence, and their impressive size made them perfect for covered stone castle walls and hallways.
The subject of wall tapestry changed with the times, moving from telling stories of battles and religion to more romantic subjects around the year 1200, during the Gothic period. This revived wall tapestry as an art form after a period of very little creation aside from painting and some needlework. Romantic stories were depicted in each tapestry, with each piece telling a full story. During the Renaissance, the subjects of wall tapestries changed again along with the paintings of the era, to symbolism and imagery. There was less focus on the need to tell a story, but instead they were designed to make an impression.
Most of the best tapestries were produced in Paris from the Middle Ages onward. But during the Hundred Years War, many were destroyed, either from the simple destruction of the violent time, or because many were made with thread that contained precious metals like silver and gold, so the tapestries were burned to retrieve the valuable metals within them. A wall tapestry you might find today would most likely only date back to the Renaissance. Most of these valuable pieces of art are owned by the wealthy, or they’re house in museums. It’s unlikely that the common collector could afford such a piece.
Fortunately, a wall tapestry reproduction is still an amazing piece of art, so much so that they’re quite expensive also, though only a fraction of what a real antique wall tapestry would cost. The only ones worth considering are the ones that are handmade and are true to the original. While you can buy “tapestries” today that are relatively cheap, they’re turned out quickly and lose much of the charm of the original. A true reproduction wall tapestry contains such craftsmanship, it can take up to 4 years to complete. When you find a wall tapestry online ask to see a picture of the back—the design on the back will show you whether it’s truly a handmade piece.
Originally posted 2008-11-14 05:18:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Beginning the Art of Collecting Wine The purpose of this article is simply to provide you with some tips for the art of collecting wine. If you are thinking about beginning your own wine cellar or simply putting together a hobby of collecting wine, then the following tips should prove useful to you. Keep in mind...... -
Japanese Art Collectibles -> Cultures-Ethnicities -> Asian Japanese art is a type of art that has a very distinctive look. If a painting, a vase, a sculpture or some other type of art is Japanese, particularly if it’s antique art, it usually only takes a quick look for you to recognize the...... -
Antique Vintage Plastic Collectibles There seems to be a market these days for every type of vintage collectibles under the sun, and Bakelite and antique plastic jewelry vintage collectibles are certainly no exception. These vintage jewelry collectibles include antique and vintage jewelry made from Bakelite as well as from vintage types of plastic include...... -
Cairn Terrier Collectibles Collectibles -> Animals -> Dog-> Cairn Terrier For those that love this intrepid breed, cairn terrier collectibles are a wonderful expression of their devotion. Whether you are shopping for yourself, or you need a gift for a lover of this breed, there are countless types of cairn terrier collectibles that...... -
Tapestries Collectibles -> Linens, Fabric & Textiles -> Tapestries Tapestries are more than just beautiful wall hangings, they're woven art that served to tell stories in ancient times. The Odyssey and the Iliad were both “told” in woven form as large, rich tapestries. Every period in history has had major events......
Related Websites - Frugal and Cheap Activities for the Kids Finding activities to keep the kids busy is an important part of my family’s summer plans. The last thing I want is to have the kids starting at me saying, “Mom, I’m bored.” Boredom doesn’t lead to a fun summer for anyone. Before summer gets underway, I’ve learned to identify......
- Australia Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs - World Breathes Easier. Finally at the far ends of this earth, a country has done what no one else will...ban incandescent light bulbs. It is about time! They hope to be completely done with them within 3 years, and expect this change to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons. I......
- Judge takes away 9-year-old's shotgun The spokesman reported that a judge in Spokane, Washington ruled that a father is not allowed to give his 9-year-old a shotgun. The court was involved due to a divorce between the boy's parents. The mother filed for a restraining order on the shotgun, claiming the boy was too young......
-
Where and How to Buy Antique Furniture Unless you are shopping around in a museum, it may be difficult to buy antique furniture dated before the 16th century. Collectors are generally only able to obtain pieces of furniture from the 1485 to 1600 Tudor Period and onwards, and even the furniture selection from this period is relatively...... - Pin Up Posters Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Posters Pin up posters might not have the popularity today that they once did, but most people will immediately recognize some of the most popular pin up moments from the heyday of beautiful pin up models. Marilyn Monroe was a pin up queen in her......
