For inquiring minds that want to know, this article is intended to give you some interesting and fun facts about tapestry wall hangings. Tapestries have a long, fascinating history. However, after reading a quantity of educational information it can all blend together and make it difficult to remember a single fact 24 hours later. So, to aid in tapestry history memory retention, presented here are fifteen concise, interesting, fun, and educational facts about tapestry wall hangings. These can be interspersed into a conversation to display keen knowledge of tapestries and tapestry wall hangings.
1. Tapestry is a form of textile art, woven on a vertical loom.
2. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads.
3. Threads running parallel to the length are called the warp.
4. Threads running parallel to the width are called the weft.
5. Tapestry is weft-faced weaving, where all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work.
6. This differs from cloth weaving where both the warp and the weft threads may be visible.
7. Navajo rugs are a type of tapestry work.
8. Tapestries have been used since at least Hellenistic times.
9. Greek tapestry has been found preserved in the desert of Tarim Basin dating from the 3rd century BC.
10. In the early 14th Century AD tapestry reached a new stage in Europe. The first wave of production originated in Germany and Switzerland and expanded over time to France and the Netherlands.
11. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Arras, France was home to a thriving textile industry specializing in fine wool tapestries that were sold to decorate palaces and castles all over Europe.
12. Few of these tapestries survived the French Revolution as hundreds were burnt to recover the gold thread that was often woven into them
13. Arras is still used to refer to a rich tapestry no matter where it was woven.
14. Kings and noblemen could roll up and transport tapestries from one residence to another and its portability contributed to the success of decorative tapestry.
15. Tapestries were displayed on walls of castles for insulation during winter, as well as for decoration.
Enjoy these fifteen facts about tapestry and, perhaps, find an opportunity to use them in a conversation of your own. Knowing some of tapestry history enhances appreciation for one more fact and that is that tapestries regardless of color, style, or subject are beautiful and amazing.