Tapestries: What Are They and Where to Buy?

What are tapestries?

Tapestry – are essentially lint-free carpets that are hung on walls. How do they differ from ordinary carpets that Soviet citizens loved so much? In fact, the difference between them is like between a dear and dear, but still Zaporozhets and a premium Mercedes. A tapestry is a luxurious carpet, necessarily handmade, which is purposefully woven to hang on the wall, so it is one-sided. It is often a reproduction of famous paintings and is created by recognized masters, among whom were, for example, Pablo Picasso and William Morris. Tapestry is woven from high-quality wool or silk, and threads of luxurious materials such as gold or silver are also woven into them.

The art of creating highly artistic author's carpets appeared with the first civilizations. Samples created in the tapestry technique were found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs Thutmose IV and Tutankhamun (14th and 15th centuries BC). Unfortunately, only from the surviving written sources do we know about the skill of Babylonian and Assyrian weavers. Ancient craftsmen from Ancient Greece and Rome also made their contribution to the development of this art. Of course, high weaving was not limited to one continent. Sophisticated Japanese and Chinese cultures also boast magnificent tapestries, as do Native American civilizations.

Why are tapestries used and what are they like?

The name «Gobelin» has an interesting story, similar to the cases with champagne/sparkling wines and cognac/brandy. The fact is that the Gobelins were a family of French dyers who became so rich thanks to their profession that they eventually got an entire quarter at their disposal.

Later, King Henry IV wanted to compete with the Belgian weavers and called in Flemish masters, whom he transported to Paris. The French monarch settled them in the same quarter as the Gobelins, apparently because of the contiguity of their professions. Henry IV banned the import of carpets from abroad and actually introduced a monopoly for, in modern terms, the newly created brand. As a result, its weavers reached such a level of skill that their carpets began to be called tapestries, and the rest - wallpapers.

Tapestry is almost always purchased as an interior decoration. They are a full-fledged work of art, like, for example, paintings or sculptures. Therefore, with their help, you can not only complement the arrangement, but also demonstrate your good aesthetic taste. Other parts of the interior also look good with tapestries, such as Crosley vinyl players. In addition, carpets are much less common compared to the same paintings or figurines. This will allow your interior to look more exclusive.

Although we do not often encounter tapestries in our everyday lives, they have been with humanity almost from the very beginning. At least since people switched to a sedentary lifestyle and began to create the first cities. In the process of historical development, the popularity of carpets sometimes grew and fell, but in the second half of the 20th century, fashion for them reappeared. In any case, a tapestry is a beautiful and original gift that you can buy in the Fama online store.