Once upon a time only kings and emperors could afford fine woven hangings for their walls. They employed staffs of skilled weavers to commemorate battles and weddings in meticulous detail. These craftsmen worked from dawn 'til dusk on giant hi-warp looms, often for as long as a year, to create stunning masterworks.

Merchants and common folk could never afford even a single tapestry; they had to settle for cloth blankets. In the early nineteenth century, the invention of the Jacquard loom changed all that. Tapestries became affordable enough to be used not only for practical purposes, but even the common folk could enjoy them as a decorative influence in their homes.

The Man Behind the Loom

Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752-1834) was a weaver by the age of ten. He experienced first-hand the numbing labor required to create a tapestry. He was a "shuttle boy," working inside the loom, but his back-breaking job led him to think "outside the loom."

In an uncanny prediction of the computers we use today, Jacquard figured out how to use punch cards to direct the intricate weaving of tapestries. Jacquard's mechanized loom was a nearly instant success. In 1803 he was decorated in Paris by Napoleon himself, who promptly declared the invention "public property." The early rumblings of the Industrial Age to come had been sounded.

For the first time, even an inn-keeper or a tradesman could afford a tapestry. Today, you can shop for a tapestry for your home without taking out a second mortgage. Beautiful wall hangings that would have cost a prince's ransom in an earlier times are available for less than a week's pay now. The materials are the same - fine wool, cotton, silk and exotic threads; but Jacquard's creation slashed the labor hours.

A Bit of Tapestry History

In medieval times, castles were damp and drafty places. Window glass didn't exist and massive stone walls were cold. Monarchs liked to be comfortable when they weren't out conquering barbarians. The earliest tapestries were used to cover windows and doors; artistic merit was important but secondary.

As kings built wealth they traded around the world for precious goods. Fine cloth from India and China was imported to Europe. Weavers learned to use gold and silver thread in their craft. Over time, displaying tapestries large enough for a main hall became a status symbol.

Royal houses kept staffs of skilled weavers on hand. They commissioned tapestries for occasions ranging from victories to coronations. Large or small, every hanging was a labor of hundreds of hours. The artistry of great tapestries was evidence of the owner's wealth and good taste. They became prized possessions that could be rolled up and carried off if trouble arose.

For centuries tapestries were treasures reserved for royalty. Lucky for us, that's no longer true! With the invention of Jacquard's modern loom, the brilliant art form known as tapestry became affordable for regular people and has endured to this day.

Cost Still Matters for Decorating

Home decor is always done on a budget. Choosing among the large variety of decorative accent objects involves comparing prices and making smart decisions. One-of-a-kind tapestries can compete with sculpture and paintings today because the Jacquard loom dramatically reduced the labor cost.

A single hand-blown glass object provides a delightful accent; one misplaced elbow can destroy it. Paintings are interesting, but can occupy only so much space before they appear gaudy. A large tapestry, however, can survive an earthquake and cover an entire wall.

Decorators can now include the rich texture and dazzling colors of tapestry without blowing the budget. Tapestries offer themes ranging from gallantry to mythology to love. A wall hanging woven of wool, silk or cotton becomes a focal point for modern room design.

Options for Every Home

Choose carefully, and each tapestry can set the mood for a different room. Hang an intriguing Oriental skirmish tapestry in your den, perhaps a battle scene. Brilliant hues of red and black can define a casual office area as a serious workspace. Select a pristine Tibetan mountain landscape to create an atmosphere of serenity in your private getaway.

In a bigger living space, use a rectangular English country scene hung horizontally over massive couch. Popular settings range from a lively foxhunt to a hidden cottage by a brook. Earth tones in green, brown, and yellow make decorating easy to coordinate!

Non-pictorial hangings are perfect for first impressions. You can enhance a blank foyer wall by displaying a traditional Native American patterned tapestry, woven on a modern Jacquard loom. Simplicity, pattern, and symbolism will reflect the geometry of tile or marble floors.

You don't have to rule a kingdom to decorate your home with tapestries. You'll love the feeling of owning uniquely beautiful art. Your guests will be intrigued and impressed. Thanks to the genius of inventor Jacquard, we can all consider buying woven wall hangings for our homes!