(From Wikipedia)
Tapestry is a form of textile art. It is woven by hand on a
weaving-loom. The chain thread is the carrier in which the coloured
striking thread is woven. In this way, a colourful pattern or image
is created. Most weavers use a naturally based chain thread made out
of linen or wool. The striking threads can be made out of silk,
wool, gold or silver, but can also be made out of any form of
textile.
Both craftsmen and artists have produced tapestries. The
'blueprints' on cartboard were made by a famous artist, while the
tapestries themselves were made by the craftsmen.The term is
commonly (though incorrectly) applied to embroidered items made in
canvas work or needlepoint, probably because this type of embroidery
mimics the woven effect.
Function
The success of the decorative tapestry can be partially explained
by its portability. Kings and noblemen could transport the tapestry
from one residence to another. In churches, it could be displayed on
special occasions.
Iconography
The iconography of most Western tapestries goes back to written
sources, the Bible and Ovid's Metamorphoses being two popular
choices. Apart from the religious and mythological images, hunting
scenes are the subject of many tapestries produced for indoor
decoration.
Historical
development
Tapestry has been known since at least Hellenistic times. Samples
of Greek tapestry have been found preserved in the desert of Tarim
Basin dating from the 3rd-2nd century BCE. Tapestry found a new
stage in Europe since the early fourteenth century. The first wave
of production originated from Germany and Switzerland. Over time,
the market expanded to France and the Netherlands.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, Arras, France was a thriving textile
town. The industry specialised in fine wool tapestries which were
sold to decorate palaces and castles all over Europe. Few of these
tapestries survived the French Revolution as hundreds were burnt in
to recover the gold thread that was often woven into them. Arras
is still used to refer to a rich tapestry no matter where it was
woven.
By the 16th century, Flanders had become the centre of European
tapestry production. By the end of the 16th century, the Northern
Netherlands became the most important producers of tapestries, and
Delft and Amsterdam became the most important tapestry cities.
