What is a Tapestry?

The art and technique of handwoven tapestry weaving is a contemplative process that has not changed significantly in thousands of years. It is a unique technique that can be adapted in a multitude of ways to the challenges of contemporary designs. Tapestries of the past have lasted for centuries and those woven today are of the same quality and will be equally long lasting. Just as tapestries were woven in the past to give warmth and meaning to castles and cathedrals they are used today to create a special focus within the space where they hang. Whether it is a church, a residence, a hospital or other structure, tapestry provides a warmth to the space where it hangs.

For centuries, tapestries have been woven in diverse parts of the world. Examples of the art of tapestry weaving can be found from ancient Peru to Egyptian Coptic weaving to Europe to the Navajo Indians of America to contemporary tapestry weavers all over the world.

this video gives an overview of tapestry from the American Tapestry Alliance.

Each individual element is skillfully placed by hand: the tapestry is woven as a unit. The design cannot be separated from the tapestry as they are one. The weaving process is a careful interlocking of warps and wefts, enabling the artist to develop an interpretation very different from a painting or a photograph. The yarns are combined to blend the colors visually. This gives the tapestry a subtle play of light and dark with the important element of texture.Tapestries provide timeless qualities of warmth, acoustics and comfort to enrich the architecture and are woven of the finest wool, silk and metallic yarns with superior craftsmanship to ensure durability and ease of installation.