History of wall hangings

Tapestry is an ancient form of textile art which has been practised all over the world for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians and the Incas used woven tapestries as shrouds in which to bury their dead. The Greeks and Romans used them as wall-coverings for civic buildings and temples like the Parthenon. 

By the mid-15th century as many as 15,000 weavers and other artisans were working in the tapestry centers of the french Loire Valley alone. Using either a vertical loom (high-warp) or a horizontal loom (low-warp), and a range of no more than 20 colors, medieval weavers produced images of religious stories from the Old and New Testaments, and - from 1500 onwards - secular scenes of battle, Kings and noblemen.

The finest European tapestries are considered to have been made by the Gobelins Tapestry Royal Factory in Paris, while major tapestry-making centres existed at Arras, Tournai, Brussels, Aubusson, Fellitin and in the Beauvais factory in Paris.

In England, the major textile art was embroidery. If and when tapestries were needed, they were imported from the Continent - usually Flanders. Although textile historians have discovered English references to Arras weavers dating back to the 13th century, it wasn't until the middle of the 16th century that tapestry works were first established in England. The first noteworthy workshops, manned by Flemish craftsmen and producing cushion covers and small tapestries featuring heraldic and ornamental subjects, were set up in Bercheston (Warwickshire) by William Sheldon 

What are tapestries used for-

tapestry, woven decorative fabric, the design of which is built up in the course of weaving broadly, the name has been used for almost any heavy material, handwoven, machine woven, or even embroidered, used to cover furniture, walls, or floors or for the decoration of clothing. Tapestries are usually designed as single panels or sets. A tapestry set is a group of individual panels related by subject, style, and workmanship and intended to be hung together. The number of pieces in a set varies according to the dimensions of the walls to be covered. The designing of sets was especially common in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Wool has been the material most widely used for making the warp, or the parallel series of threads that run lengthwise in the fabric of the tapestry. The width-running, weft, or filling threads, which are passed at right angles above and below the warp threads, thereby completely covering them, are also most commonly of wool. The advantages of wool in the weaving of tapestries have been its availability, work ability, durability, and the fact that it can be easily dyed to obtain a wide range of colors. Wool has often been used in combination with linen, silk, or cotton threads for the weft. These materials make possible greater variety and contrast of color and texture and are better suited than wool to detail weaving or to creating delicate effects.

Tapestries today-

The contemporary tapestries offered here include landscapes, fine art tapestries and floral wall-hangings. Tapestries can instantly add a pop of colour and vibrancy to your living space or wherever you choose to hang it. Different scenes or designs on tapestries convey different emotions and environments (vibes, if you will). It lifts the energy in the space and can help create an atmosphere of serenity in your home. They encourage reflective and tranquil moments, enlighten the human spirit and are great subjects of conversation. They also elevate our personal space, add charm and coziness to our homes and are balm for the soul. All of these qualities have made wall tapestries a popular choice amongst art lovers for centuries.

How to hang wall tapestries-

If you aren't concerned with holes in the wall, nails or push pins provide the easiest method for hanging a tapestry. It works better with fabric that has a larger weave that allows the tack to pass through without damage. Position the tapestry on the wall and slip a nail through the fabric near one corner.

The perfect place to hang a tapestry-

It is advisable for you to hang your tapestry so that it is slightly behind a piece of furniture. For example, if you are hanging your wall tapestry above a couch, it should fall slightly behind the back of the sofa, about four inches below the top.

At Signare, we have the perfect wall hangings to hang in your home to spice up and give a colorful and homey vibe to any room you decide to hang one of our gorgeous art wall tapestries in. Have a look at our rich collection of art tapestries. There is something for everyone’s taste when it comes to Signare’s collection of wall tapestries.