The first tapestries, created from woven textiles, were made in the Middle Ages. The most common definition of a tapestry describes it as a thick fabric into which colored threads are integrated in order to form intricate designs. The specific labor involved in making a tapestry distinguishes it quite a bit from any type of embroidery.
During the Middle Ages, people used tapestries as curtains and around doors to keep out the cold. They were also used decoratively around the house and as bed canopies that would stop falling objects from dropping directly onto the bed. If the tapestry was large enough, it would cascade down the sides of the bed as well, providing additional privacy.
Those who could afford to live in mansions and castles used tapestries in order to separate some of the larger rooms into smaller living areas. Many were created as testaments to Bible histories and victorious battles. Very often, kings and others carried tapestries on their journeys in order to advertise their wealth. The exquisite and intricate designs woven into them made them highly sought after as works of art.
Making a tapestry is a long, tedious process. Following the painting of a design, weavers would locate the ingredients necessary for dyeing the threads into a variety of colors. When the threads were all prepared, a large group of weavers would start working on the intricate design of the tapestry. Just a square foot of fabric could often take months to complete, and some of the larger tapestries measured up to 80 feet wide. These weavers were highly trained and would pass down their expertise to future generations.
Some of the more common themes used on tapestries were hunting expeditions, fishing trips, and scenes of landscapes. There were even artists that were hired to accompany kings on trips and sports outings, just to be able to capture design scenes more realistically. When some of these designs began to be put down on the fabrics, they often had an unbelievable amount of different colors in them, which made the finished works look a lot like paintings.
The best tapestries were produced in Paris until 1337. During the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453) weavers had to flee from Paris and many of the beautiful tapestries were damaged or lost. After things calmed down from the war, the hand woven tapestry business continued flourishing in France until 1789, when the French Revolution broke out. During the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) many tapestries were burned to take the gold and silver threads used in many of these fine woven goods.
In 1801, however, everything changed. Joseph Jacquard, a weaver of silk, invented the Jacquard loom, which made use of punch cards in order to improve the functionality of the textile loom. The cards made the weaving process somewhat automated, and even unskilled weavers were able to produce some of the most exquisite patterns ever seen. Some skill was needed in order to run the loom efficiently, but there was no longer a need for months and months of tedious hand work to be done. Along with this semi-automation came the ability to offer less expensive tapestries to an ever widening market.
Museums around the world showcase these now historic works of art, the kind that were completely hand made and woven. There are arguably more tapestries from medieval times on display in museums than any other type of art. As you can imagine, the cost of these pieces of history are quite large. The Jacquard loom has not taken all the work out of making a tapestry, but the time and work have been cut considerably, and these beautiful accents are a lot less costly than before.
For inventing such a labor saving device, Joseph Jacquard should be applauded. His invention let weavers continue to make beautiful tapestries, but at a price that could be afforded by a greater portion of the population. These lower prices are letting the average person be able to display these fine works in their homes and enjoy something once reserved for only the rich. - 15485
During the Middle Ages, people used tapestries as curtains and around doors to keep out the cold. They were also used decoratively around the house and as bed canopies that would stop falling objects from dropping directly onto the bed. If the tapestry was large enough, it would cascade down the sides of the bed as well, providing additional privacy.
Those who could afford to live in mansions and castles used tapestries in order to separate some of the larger rooms into smaller living areas. Many were created as testaments to Bible histories and victorious battles. Very often, kings and others carried tapestries on their journeys in order to advertise their wealth. The exquisite and intricate designs woven into them made them highly sought after as works of art.
Making a tapestry is a long, tedious process. Following the painting of a design, weavers would locate the ingredients necessary for dyeing the threads into a variety of colors. When the threads were all prepared, a large group of weavers would start working on the intricate design of the tapestry. Just a square foot of fabric could often take months to complete, and some of the larger tapestries measured up to 80 feet wide. These weavers were highly trained and would pass down their expertise to future generations.
Some of the more common themes used on tapestries were hunting expeditions, fishing trips, and scenes of landscapes. There were even artists that were hired to accompany kings on trips and sports outings, just to be able to capture design scenes more realistically. When some of these designs began to be put down on the fabrics, they often had an unbelievable amount of different colors in them, which made the finished works look a lot like paintings.
The best tapestries were produced in Paris until 1337. During the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453) weavers had to flee from Paris and many of the beautiful tapestries were damaged or lost. After things calmed down from the war, the hand woven tapestry business continued flourishing in France until 1789, when the French Revolution broke out. During the French Revolution (1789 - 1799) many tapestries were burned to take the gold and silver threads used in many of these fine woven goods.
In 1801, however, everything changed. Joseph Jacquard, a weaver of silk, invented the Jacquard loom, which made use of punch cards in order to improve the functionality of the textile loom. The cards made the weaving process somewhat automated, and even unskilled weavers were able to produce some of the most exquisite patterns ever seen. Some skill was needed in order to run the loom efficiently, but there was no longer a need for months and months of tedious hand work to be done. Along with this semi-automation came the ability to offer less expensive tapestries to an ever widening market.
Museums around the world showcase these now historic works of art, the kind that were completely hand made and woven. There are arguably more tapestries from medieval times on display in museums than any other type of art. As you can imagine, the cost of these pieces of history are quite large. The Jacquard loom has not taken all the work out of making a tapestry, but the time and work have been cut considerably, and these beautiful accents are a lot less costly than before.
For inventing such a labor saving device, Joseph Jacquard should be applauded. His invention let weavers continue to make beautiful tapestries, but at a price that could be afforded by a greater portion of the population. These lower prices are letting the average person be able to display these fine works in their homes and enjoy something once reserved for only the rich. - 15485
About the Author:
The Medieval tapestry brought the stories and events to the wealthy of the goings on in the world. These continue to be wonderful andunique wall tapestry gifts to the world.
