Stitching a room together.....Tapestries

Deandra Douglas via Cote de Texas

It’s no secret I’m an antique textile dealer and as such I have a certain fondness for tapestries. Tapestries used as backdrops help to add a focal point where there might not be one and creates the illusion of height. Tapestries help to visually expand a space bringing the eye all the up to the ceiling.

Veranda 2008

Veranda 2008

In the middle ages tapestries had a purely utilitarian function. They were originally designed to protect medieval rooms from damp and cold weather and to cover and decorate austere walls of castles. Because the tapestries were enormous in size during the time period most you see today are mere fragments. Tapestries were huge investments as thus were displays of wealth and power, still sort of are today since even fragments can cost thousands of dollars

Donna Temple Brown's

Production was centered around Paris until the Hundred Years War (1337—1453) caused the weavers to flee north and by 1500, Flanders, especially Brussels and Bruges, had become the chief places of production. Tapestries became beside painting, sculpture and architecture one of the major visual art forms.

House Beautiful Magazine

Later in the 16th century, patrons chose to depict one of their favorite pastimes: the hunt, peasants at work and play, often themselves in disguise. I wonder what we would have woven today if we were to depict our favorite pastime?

Source unknown

With a little imagination tapestries can be used in a variety of ways besides pillows and upholstery. They look wonderful draped over the back of a sofa, seldom used of course. I’m not so sure I would use a very old and expensive tapestry in this fashion draped over a table with items on it as it breaks down the silk and wool threads, please don’t destroy history!

House beautiful, July 2011

Elle Decor, September 2011

Love this look with the tapestry upholstery with antique silk velvet pillows.  

Could you get a room any more French looking?

my tapestries

While I’ve given a simplistic history of tapestries they remain a highly prized art form for decorating a room. Remember if you’re ever in the market for a tapestry or even a fragment on a pillow I have something to please every taste.

Hey a girl's got to promote herself sometimes right? So tell me do you have any tapestries?