The tapestry is among one of the old woven textiles that dates back to the middle ages. In common words the word tapestry means a thick fabric in which colored weft threads are hand woven into fixed warp threads to create designs. This is significantly different from embroidery.



There were many people during the Middle Ages who used tapestries as windows drapes or as insulation around outer doors. Others used them as canopies for beds in order to protect the bed from any objects falling in through the roof. These decorative fabrics were often even big enough to cover the sides of the bed as well, giving some much needed privacy.

The rich and wealthy with mansions and palaces used the tapestry as a partition to divide a large hall into smaller quarters. It was also used as one medium to portray religious and Bible stories and other tales of war victories. Kings and other noble men used to carry tapestries with them when they traveled, as a display of their wealth. The intricate and detailed designs woven in the tapestries made them an excellent work-of-art in high demand.

There was an extensive amount of work that had to be put into making a tapestry. To begin with, an artist would have to paint the original design, which was called a cartoon. The next step would involve gathering the proper plants needed to dye threads in the colors needed. Once the threads were dry, the tapestry was woven together by a team of weavers, a project that often took years to complete depending on the size of the finished product. Some were an incredible 20 foot by 80 foot. The art of weaving was a craft handed down from generation to generation.

Some of the more common themes used on tapestries were hunting expeditions, fishing trips, and scenes of landscapes. There were even artists that were hired to accompany kings on trips and sports outings, just to be able to capture design scenes more realistically. When some of these designs began to be put down on the fabrics, they often had an unbelievable amount of different colors in them, which made the finished works look a lot like paintings.

Prior to the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Paris was the source of the highest quality tapestries. During the war, however, many weavers had to flee France, and a good number of tapestries were destroyed or lost. When peace finally settled on the land once again, weavers again took up the trade and flourished until the dawn of the French Revolution in 1789. During that upheaval, tapestries were often burned and looted for gold and silver threads.

In 1801, however, everything changed. Joseph Jacquard, a weaver of silk, invented the Jacquard loom, which made use of punch cards in order to improve the functionality of the textile loom. The cards made the weaving process somewhat automated, and even unskilled weavers were able to produce some of the most exquisite patterns ever seen. Some skill was needed in order to run the loom efficiently, but there was no longer a need for months and months of tedious hand work to be done. Along with this semi-automation came the ability to offer less expensive tapestries to an ever widening market.

Museums all over the globe have displays of these decorative wall hangings. According to some, these are currently the most displayed type of art, and the tapestries carry enormous price tags. Even with the Jacquard loom, making a tapestry is still quite labor intensive, but they are becoming more affordable due to such weaving innovations.

For inventing such a labor saving device, Joseph Jacquard should be applauded. His invention let weavers continue to make beautiful tapestries, but at a price that could be afforded by a greater portion of the population. These lower prices are letting the average person be able to display these fine works in their homes and enjoy something once reserved for only the rich.