What is a tapestry?

Tapestry is a woven art form that has existed for thousands of years. Many tapestries have astounding longevity; fragments woven in ancient Egypt still survive today. Throughout history, fine tapestries have been rare and expensive, as they take a great deal of skill and time to weave. Today, there is sometimes confusion as to what is meant by ‘tapestry’, as it is often used to give a sense of luxury to other textile techniques, like embroidery.

Tapestry weavers use a variety of techniques to convey their ideas through layers of thread. In broad terms, horizontal weft threads are woven through the vertical warp thread, row-by-row, to build up a design. Tapestry weavers are masters of illustrative as well as structural design, balancing a dynamic tension between physical construction and visual narrative.

Tapestries are woven on a loom, which determines the size of the piece. They can be woven with any type of thread, traditionally wool, linen or silk. Weaving is a labour-intensive process; tapestries woven with finer threads take longer to make. A fine one-metre square can take weeks, or even months, to complete.