Medieval tapestries have a long and illustrious history. Since time immemorial this form of tapestry or medieval tapestries has been much valued as popular items for home décor. Primarily a type of textile art, tapestry is knitted on a vertical loom by hand. It varies from cloth knitting where both weft threads and the warp can be perceptible. Most weavers though, employ linen or cotton. The weft threads are mainly cotton or wool, but can include gold, silk, silver and other alternatives. Both artists and craftsmen have created medieval tapestries.
Tapestries have a long history dating back to the Greek civilization. Examples of ancient Greek tapestry have been discovered in the Tarim Basin desert, which were made before the birth of Christ. In the early fourteenth century the tapestry attained a new phase in Europe and the form of tapestry then generated came to be known as medieval tapestries. Germany and Switzerland were the pioneers in creating tapestry and were followed by France and Netherlands. Arras, a place in France was a flourishing textile zone in the 14th and 15th centuries and is famous for medieval tapestries, which it produced.
However, with the passage of time medieval tapestries lost its prominence and were slowly categorised as a fading form of art. William Morris revived the technique of tapestry-making in the medieval style in the 19th century, at Merton Abbey. He prepared a great variety of medieval tapestries for residence as well as clerical use and used cartoons for illustration. It was under his tutelage that the medieval tapestries were infused with a new life.
The popularity of medieval tapestries is due its portability. The emperors and their kinsmen could furl and carry tapestries easily. In churches, medieval tapestries could be used during particular events. In addition to that, medieval tapestries were also used to adorn the rooms of citadels as well as to combat the intense chill of the European region. The theme of most European medieval tapestries was based on the Bible and Ovid's Metamorphoses. Aside from mythology and religion, hunting landscapes are also depicted in several tapestries for indoor decoration.
The Bayeux Tapestry, having a rich heritage, narrates the events that resulted in the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and the incursion itself. It is a form of medieval tapestry and is interpreted in Latin. It is presently kept in a museum in Bayeux, France, for exhibition. The Anglo-Saxon artists possibly crafted it. It has given birth to a number of replicas and has been used in the famous computer game Diablo II. This tapestry has motivated later artwork and embroidery, mainly those involving conquests.
Croft European tapestries, a reputed family company, focuses in creating refined European as well as North American tapestries. It also has table runners, tapestry cushion covers, handbags, throws, and bell pulls in its kitty. The main topics of its products are City and country, animals and wildlife and Landscape. It is one of the major tapestry dealers in the UK. It has a global customer database and offers shipping and insurance for free. It treats its consumers better than any other brand and has a reasonable pricing policy. It aims at giving the buyers a great variety of gorgeous and inexpensive tapestries.
