Tree Of Life Tapestries & Rugs

Tapestry collections throughout the world have been celebrated by many. The vivid and dramatic colours and diverse interpretations have captivated audiences and have enabled artist’s masterpieces to be transformed and reproduced through tapestry. Through the ages tapestries have been commissioned as a way of expressing art form. This may have been through dramatic religious belief, or in a representation of tradition and lifestyle using a more abstract symbolic approach. Museums now house many of the original tapestry collections which continue to exude a timeless appeal.

The Attraction of Medieval Tapestries

Some of the most well known and enigmatic tapestries are those woven during the medieval era. These works of art have stood the test of time and continue to appeal through their intricate design and detail. Unicorns were incorporated into the design of many medieval tapestries, symbolizing good over evil and religious experience. One of the most famous sixteenth century collections can be seen in New York City at the Cloisters Museum. La Chasse de la Licorne, originally woven in France, contains a multifaceted array of symbolism and is believed to represent healing, particularly the horn of the unicorn. One theory behind the meaning of the series is that they were originally commissioned to celebrate a marriage and the Licorne Captive is representative of a lady capturing her betrothed. The Lady and the Unicorn series shows unicorns representing the human senses such as touch, smell, and hearing and can be seen in the Cluny Museum, Paris. Many of the tapestries incorporating unicorns into their designs were based on religious beliefs, and a way of expressing emotions. Unicorns continue to appeal today to a wide audience.

 A Medieval Raconteur- The Bayeux Tapestry

One of the most famous and well known tapestries of all time is in fact embroidery. The Bayeux Tapestry was woven to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by William the Conqueror and is actually split into sections focusing on the story. The precise origins of the tapestry remain a mystery and are thought to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo. Although there is a reference to the existence of the work in 1476 it has endured poor storage and was used to cover a cart during the French Revolution. Remarkably it has survived and has an enduring appeal. Today this magnificent artefact is displayed in the Musee de la Tapisserie in the French town of Bayeux.

William Morris- Inspired Designs

 William Morris tapestries signified the emergence of modern tapestry art, particularly those that could be adapted for middle class Victorian homes. Unique designs with striking and dramatic colours saw Morris become one of the most popular artists of his time. One example of his work entitled Ehret Die Frauen is displayed in the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester and was inspired by a verse by Schiller extolling feminine virtue. Other examples of Morris designs include the Tree of Life, Flora, Pomona, and the Woodpecker. A Continual Inspiration Textiles have been used throughout history for a variety of purposes and in differing art media. Tapestry is a form of textile wall art that continues to enhance our surroundings and appeal to many cultures.

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William Morris is one of Britain’s most prolific textile designers with a talent in every area he managed to influence. A multi skilled designer with a appreciation of beautiful things, he developed a design portfolio that encompasses many genres in the applied arts. Morris’ Early years In 1834 William Morris was born in Walthamstow, Essex. He attended Exeter College, Oxford where he met Edward Burne-Jones, who later became his business partner and lifelong friend. Initial plans to study for Holy Orders were abandoned in favour of becoming and architect. With such a creative mind Morris soon tired of this and joined his friend Burne-Jones to paint. Art became Morris’s forte and he developed talent in printing, poetry and learning how to weave. His tapestry work is undoubtedly his finest creation. Acanthus and Vine was Morris’s first tapestry, completed in 1879.

The Arts and Crafts Movement The 1860’s saw a transformation of the applied arts when Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Company was formed. This brought together some of the leading artists of the day as William Morris, Peter Paul Marshall, and Charles Faulkner began the Arts and Crafts Movement together with Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox Brown. The tapestries and wall hangings created by Morris remain influential in the design world today. Morris said, ”Whatever you have in your room, think first of the walls, for they are that which makes your house and home.” The company eventually became known as Morris & Co in 1874. William Morris Tapestries Burne-Jones and Morris worked in partnership on some of the greatest tapestries to emerge from the Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris wove the tapestry that Burne-Jones designed.

One of the most popular tapestries is the Quest for the Holy Grail, now on display in the Birmingham Museum and is a set of six tapestries depicting this famous legend. The Adoration of the Magi is perhaps Morris’s most well known religious tapestry, and was also the most complex. Depicting the nativity scene, the foreground is scattered with British flowers and Morris declared that, “nothing better of the kind has ever been done, old or new.” The Woodpecker is one of the few designed by Morris himself and depicts the bird sitting in the branches of a fruit tree surrounded by an ornate background of leaves, which came to typify the Morris design. An embroidered inscription of Morris’s own poetry was included in the tapestry design. The use of colour and intricate detail can be seen in The Tree of Life, a well known Morris design, which also serves to display his expertise in patterns.

A timeless appeal

Morris once said,” Have nothing in your houses that you do know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” One of the most prolific artists of the nineteenth century, his works are seen today in modern homes and is a testament to the fact that true beauty is timeless.

 Copyright © The Tapestry House, all rights reserved.

 This is Free-Reprint article from The Tapestry House. Our terms are: Please leave copyright statement intact Please publish author info including links Please do not use the article in unsolicited emails Please keep all links intact and “as is” – no embedded keyword advertising