Tapestry

Tapestry is a form of textile art which is the creation of textiles or creation with textiles. Textile art involves various techniques to create the marvelous pieces of art using different threads and fibers. This from of art is woven by hand on a weaving loom which means interlacing of two sets of threads at right angles to each other. Herein the loom is a kind of a device that is used for weaving thread or yarn into textiles. Its basic purpose is the hold the wrap threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads. Tapestry comes out to be a woven image which may use any number of textiles and comes in variety of sizes. Generally it refers to a wall-hanging image reflecting a scene. Some other examples of tapestry include tapestry blankets, pillows, cushions and tapestry chairs.

Tapestry is known since at least Hellenistic times and are said to be the most pervasive works of art throughout historical Europe. It found new dimensions in Europe since the early fourteenth century. Its first wave of production was seen from Germany and Switzerland. These forms of art can also be seen in many churches and cathedrals depicting religious scenes, kings and nobility. Apart form mythological and religious scenes these tapestries could also depict various hunting scenes and can be produced for indoor decoration. They often tell great stories of battles or events that held in ancient times. The success of the decorative tapestries can be partially explained by its portability. They were very easy to transport and could be stored away at any places and if required can be brought out at any special occasions or events. It could also be transported by kings form one residence to another.

Tapestry is considered as a great form of art and allows for a complex interaction of color and light. It is the form of art that can use various colored threads, textiles and the way these threads are blended together in different dimensions looks incredible. These tapestries are sometimes found very similar, yet very different form each other. In addition to their aesthetic worth, a tapestry also provided a church or castle with the added benefit of insulation.

There are some most famous tapestries and one of them is undoubtedly the Bayeux tapestry. This tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England, with William the Conqueror as its central figure. It is just over 230 feet (70m) long and nearly two feet (6m) high. Other famous tapestries include The Hunt of the Unicorn which is a seven piece tapestry. In this the two major interpretations of the tapestries hinge on Pagan and Christian symbolism. Another is The Sampul tapestry which is a woolen wall hanging and it shows a centaur and a Greek soldier, woven using twenty different colored threads. The Quaker tapestry is a modern tapestry showing the rich history of the Quaker faith. It is made up of 77 panels and was created by over 4000 people over a period of 15 long years.