Lecture 1: Tapestry Description & the Historical use of Tapestry

Our first theoretical studies were based on tapestries and the historical use of the tapestry. As it was a first theoretical lecture and I found myself struggling to take notes (with English being my second language), I decided to go back to basics and start by looking at the explanations of terms, that were used in the lecture. I chose Wikipedia to start with for its clear and simple explanations:

Tapestry is a form of textile art, which is woven by hand on a vertical loom. It is weft-faced weaving, in which all the wrap threads are hidden in the completed work, unlike cloth weaving, where both the wrap and the weft threads may be visible. In this way, a colourful pattern or image is created. Most weavers use a naturally based wrap thread such as cotton or linen. The weft threads are usually wool or cotton, but may include silk, gold, silver, or other alternatives.

Both craftsmen and artists have produced tapestries. The "blueprints" on cardboard (also know as "tapestry cartoons") were made by artists of repute, while the tapestries themselves were produced by craftsmen.

The success of decorative tapestry can be partially explained by it's portability. It could be rolled up and transported from one residence to another and displayed on special occasions in churches. In the Middle Ages and renaissance tapestry also was a symbol of authority.

Apart from religious and mythological images, hunting scenes are the subject of many tapestries.

Earliest were Greek tapestries, which have been found preserved in the desert of Tarim Basin. 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 French Revolutions as hundreds were burned to recover the gold thread that was woven into them. Arras is still used to refer to a rich tapestry no matter where it was made.