Tapestries were a common sight in ancient churches and
castles during the medieval and Renaissance eras. They were also effective as a
form of decoration and insulation that was highly portable. The art of tapestry
was able to produce some of the most complex designs and figurative images on a
grand scale due to the unique procedure of placing every stitch individually by
hand. The basic production of tapestries was rather generalized although wealthy
and powerful members of society could order customized designs enriched with
gilt metallic thread and silk. European
tapestries occupy a very special role in history and continue to adorn homes
and offices around the world.
Most of the famous pieces done by the
various master weavers are now owned by wealthy collectors and art galleries
around the world. The art of producing tapestries has however not died but is
alive and well. Various replicas of these tapestries as well as some new
creations can be bought from various reliable outlets. A good place to search
for tapestry art is online as you can do this wherever you are as long as you
have Internet connectivity.
There are various considerations that
go into the buying decision. Some of the considerations include but are not
restricted to:
- The prevailing décor in the room or property
- The preferences with regard to the theme of the tapestry
- The function of the room for which the tapestry is meant (while fruit and flower themes may be good for the kitchen, they might not be equally suitable for the library)
- The particular area of the room where a tapestry will be located. ( there are certain designs that arte popular for specific locations such as above a fireplace)
- The size of the wall
- The ambience of the room
- Budget constraints
- Personal taste. ( if you prefer tapestries from a specific era, weaver, or category)
