European Tapestries: Works of Wall Art!
What is it about European tapestries that captivate our imagination that holds us transfixed in admiration when we happen upon one in a museum, home, office, church or historic home?
Whether you are an expert in the western European tapestries, or simply an art admirer, wall hangings create a unique and special ambiance, like a warm fire in a room. Perhaps it’s because wall tapestries are spectacular not only in colors but also in size.
Certainly, the combined effects of sublime colors and appropriately large tapestries can hold us in awe, partly because most of us rarely get to see a wall tapestry, and partly because, when we do, we find we want to stay around them longer, to linger over their beauty.
In fact, a well designed tapestry hanging in a room, transforms not only the room, but also the people in it! That’s why one of our fondest memories of our travels in Europe is often the spectacular antique wool tapestries we saw in the museums, chateaux and villas. You couldn’t miss them – often these tapestries occupied entire walls of rooms.
Of course, we don’t have to go to Europe to see fine European tapestries. If you live in any major built up area, you’ll probably discover that there are several places where magnificent wall tapestries are on display. Virtually all the major museums in the United States have tapestry collections. Many of the larger traditional art galleries feature wall hanging tapestries, as do the larger Antiques Dealers and auction houses, like Butterfields in San Francisco, Sotheby’s and Christies in LA and New York. For instance, the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco has a bequeathed collection of over 110 beautiful tapestries. And the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts in New York and Washington has double that amount. Unfortunately, because of the wall display space they occupy, the museums and art galleries rarely display more than a few tapestries at a time, which means that most of the antique wool tapestry collection will probably not be viewed by the public. Meantime, they remain stored in the controlled temperature and humidity vaults. They are carefully rolled around tubes, wrapped, sealed and stacked in special racks for optimal preservation. All of the museums have active textile conservation programs to ensure these wall hanging tapestries remain for generations to view.
Of course, these days you don’t have to be rich like a king to have a beautiful hand woven tapestry in your home. Fortunately for us, in the twenty-first century, there are some good sources of quality reproductions inspired from the originals that hang in galleries and private collections.
A primary source, Heirloom European Tapestries www.tapestries-inc.com has the largest selection of hand woven tapestries as well as jacquard woven and silk screened wall hangings. Heirloom European tapestry expert’s work with designers, architects and home owners to guide the customer through choosing the appropriate wall tapestry for their environment. Additionally, they can help you create your own custom tapestry for a particular space or niche. Custom tapestries have been woven for private homes, churches, synagogues, offices, hotels and restaurants. They also custom design and create tapestry hanging flat-to-wall rods and finials and tapestry decor accessories, including woven Aubusson carpets.
Copyright Heirloom European Tapestries, Inc – January 2011
About the Author
Heirloom European Tapestries is the largest source for beautiful and elegant wall hanging Large Tapestries for home and office decor. We manufacture a wide range of tapestries which include Floral tapestries, French tapestries, Italian tapestries & Landscape tapestries.
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