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One of the oldest types of woven textiles is the tapestry, which became well known during the Middle Ages. The tapestry is best defined as a thick material that has colored threads woven throughout it in order to create a picture or design. This is completely different than embroidery work.

Back in the middle ages tapestries were used to cover windows and doors for insulation, as well as decoration. They were also used as canopies above beds to keep anything from the roof from dropping into the bed. Sometimes the canopy was large enough to not only cover the top of the bed, but the sides too, providing privacy.

The rich and wealthy with mansions and palaces used the tapestry as a partition to divide a large hall into smaller quarters. It was also used as one medium to portray religious and Bible stories and other tales of war victories. Kings and other noble men used to carry tapestries with them when they traveled, as a display of their wealth. The intricate and detailed designs woven in the tapestries made them an excellent work-of-art in high demand.

There was an extensive amount of work that had to be put into making a tapestry. To begin with, an artist would have to paint the original design, which was called a cartoon. The next step would involve gathering the proper plants needed to dye threads in the colors needed. Once the threads were dry, the tapestry was woven together by a team of weavers, a project that often took years to complete depending on the size of the finished product. Some were an incredible 20 foot by 80 foot. The art of weaving was a craft handed down from generation to generation.

Some of the most common tapestries portrayed scenes of landscapes, hunting and fishing expeditions, and battles. There were even kings who had artists on the battlefield with them so that the trip could be captured and later put on a tapestry. As designs became more and more intricate, some tapestries would end up having over 300 different colors on them, looking much more like an oil painting.

Prior to the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), Paris was the source of the highest quality tapestries. During the war, however, many weavers had to flee France, and a good number of tapestries were destroyed or lost. When peace finally settled on the land once again, weavers again took up the trade and flourished until the dawn of the French Revolution in 1789. During that upheaval, tapestries were often burned and looted for gold and silver threads.

It was in 1801, silk-weaver Joseph Jacquard, completed the invention of the Jacquard loom, which was an improved textile loom using punch cards. The cards controlled the weaving process incredibly and allowed for none-skilled weavers to dig in and create the most fantastic woven patterns in tapestry history. It still took a skill and dedication to master and work well with this loom, but the days of painstakingly weaving tapestries by hand were suddenly gone. A much wider market for more affordable tapestries was born.

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.

Thanks to Joseph Jacquard, tapestries became easier to make and much more affordable. People were able to still make tapestries just as beautiful, but the cost of production had fallen sharply. This allowed for more people to be able to afford them and use them as decorative decor in their own homes. It is an easy and stylish way to display the most beautiful type of artwork. Enjoy one of your own today.

Large wall tapestries were created for the great walls in cathedrals, castles and the residences of royalty, back in the day. More manageable sizes are available today and at more affordable price. Some might even be considered inexpensive tapestries.

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