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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
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1992-09-02
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Ornamental woven textile used for wall
hangings, furniture, and curtains. The
tapestry design is threaded into the warp
with various shades of yarn. Tapestries have
been woven for centuries in many countries,
and during the Middle Ages the art was
practised in monasteries. European tapestries
of the 13th century frequently featured
oriental designs brought back by the
Crusaders. The great European centres of
tapestry weaving were in Belgium, France, and
England. The Gobelins tapestry factory of
Paris was made a royal establishment in the
17th century. In England, William Morris
established the Merton Abbey looms in the
late 19th century. Other designers have
included Raphael, Rubens, and Burne-Jones.
The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidery rather
than a true tapestry. Many fine tapestries
are still made in France; for example, the
tapestry designed by Graham Sutherland for
Coventry cathedral, which was made at
Felletin, where tapestries have been woven
since the 15th century.