About Flemish tapestries:

It is a fact that Flanders (Belgium) was and still is a very important tapestry centre. The ancient technique of tapestry weaving originates in Europe, especially in Flanders, France and Germany.
There were many trade agreements with regard to this luxury product throughout all Europe during the Middle Ages. The trading in tapestry particularly culminated in the late Middle Ages.

Tapestries are still very popular because of their historical background, the cosiness and the magic they radiate or just because they're beautiful to look at.
Although today only few tapestries are hand woven, they still require a lot of work. A tapestry can be hand woven, machine woven or silk screened. Those are the three basic tapestry weaving techniques. Most of our own tapestries are machine woven or jacquard woven.

Flemish weavers still reproduce a lot of famous woven tapestry wall hangings like: The Unicorn series, William Morris tapestries (tree of life,…), medieval tapestries, Verdure tapestry, Oudenaarde, renaissance,… Runners, bell pulls, handbags and purses, cushion and table covers are also made of woven tapestry fabric. In our glossary you can read more about themes and styles in tapestries.

Interesting tapestry subjects:

History of tapestries:
This form of textile art is an art woven by hand or with bobbins on a weaving-loom. The Egyptians, for example, were already familiar with the technique of tapestry weaving; they buried the deceased in tapestry woven clothing. The ancient technique of tapestry weaving originates in Europe, especially in Flanders, France, and Germany…
(Click to the title to read more on this tapestry realated subject)

The function of tapestries:
The function of tapestries evolved throughout history. Nowadays, they have a rather artistic or decorative value whereas they used to have a protective function for castles during the Middle Ages. Even the Egyptians were already familiar with tapestry weaving; they used it to wrap up their deceased…
(Click to the title to read more on this tapestry realated subject)

Used materials in tapestries:
Wool/Cotton Today tapestry often refers to another textile, but true tapestry is woven; therefore, most tapestries are made of wool, but the most luxurious ones also include silk, gold, or silver threads. The warp threads are laid out lengthways and the colored weft threads crossways. This intersection results in a tapestry. The way of combining them, the colors, the materials, the delicacy determine its character. Weavers prefer cotton to wool when they're making smaller and more detailed tapestries…
(Click to the title to read more on this tapestry realated subject)

craftmanship in making tapestries:
A tapestry can be hand woven, machine woven, or silk screened. Those are the three basic tapestry weaving techniques. Weaving by hand is still done nowadays, but rather in terms of restoration than production. Tapestry is quite a time-consuming work. A one square foot tapestry, for example, takes more than two months to be created. In a silk screening process, viscous ink is printed on textile stretched over a frame. A different frame is required for each color…
(Click to the title to read more on this tapestry realated subject)