Royalty And Belgian Tapestry – A Must Have Tapestries
Belgian tapestries were used by the royal families of Europe to decorate their stately homes. It was a sign of wealth and honor. These tapestries were hand crafted by artisans and craftsman of the court and were finished by hand as well. They were the most coveted of all the styles of tapestry. There are two forms of Belgian Tapestry, Bayeux and Beatrix.
The Bayeux ones depicted usually depicted famous battles and well-known people of the court. One of the most famous ones displayed “The Battle of Hastings”. Bayeux was the brother of William the Conqueror. This tapestry was 230 feet long and 22 inches high. It can still be seen today in a special museum in Northern France.
The Beatrix tapestries were known for their rendition of nautical scenes and romantic themes. Another well known part of this category were religious tapestries such as The Madonna and Child. Another well known type of Belgian Tapestries was made in Flanders and depicted art renditions by Monet and other famous artists of the period. Belgian tapestries are made in two basic styles, horizontal and vertical.
They are often made with unlined chenille fabric and are often used as rugs or carpets in very light traffic areas of homes. Typical designs using chenille fabric are animals, flowers and other wild life. The fabric is light weight and in our modern world is often fashioned into throw covers small rugs and other small sized wall hangings. Belgian tapestries are treasured as family heirlooms and have been passed down from one generation to another.