Stories are told and history is preserved in antique tapestries and textiles

Much can be learned through the study of antique tapestries and textiles. They reflect a great many things about the social culture of a given time period in history. Their fibers, weave and colors give evidence of the date it was made and the stage of technology enjoyed by the people. The very early antique tapestries and textiles will show that the craftsmen that made them have a very limited number of colors to work with. By the eighteen thirties there were more then thirty thousand being used. With the addition of more colors, the pieces began to appear as great works of art with amazing recreations and floral displays appearing on the market.

In the early days the antique tapestries and textiles were all created by hand. The material was hand woven and all sticking was done by hand. Piping and other decorations were individually created and applied. As time went on much of this work was delegated to machines making mass production possible. This reduced the price of the work and made it more available to the average man. Prior to mechanization tapestries were coveted in castles as a status symbol while they did double duty as insulation against the cold.

Many museums around the world boast extensive displays of antique tapestries and textiles. They assume the responsibility of maintaining them throughout perpetuity. This means climate control and limited exposure to harmful light. It may not be possible to view the originals but many of them are copied and sold today.

Author Notes:

Laurie Simpson contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.tapestry-tapestry.com. Tapestries make elegant gifts as table runners, pillows, throws and wall hangings found in traditional and medieval prints.