If you’re looking for a medieval tapestry for your home, then have a look at these ideas here.

With a tapestry wall hanging in the medieval theme, a very evocative effect can be achieved.

Why? Because medieval art reflects on an age in which romanticism and an idealism of life that also brings forth ideas of fantasy as well.

Medieval tapestries are generally in 3 main categories:

1. Unicorn tapestries

2. Medieval tapestries depicting life in the Middle Ages

3. Bayeaux tapestries

The European tapestries depicting the unicorn is inspired by original works created in the Middle Ages and beyond, and include works from the times of Louis XI and from tales and legends from the 1400s.

Life and romanticism in the middle ages and times of Arthurian legends are abound in works such as The Accolade by Pre-Raphaelite, Edmund Blair Leighton (1853 - 1922) where life in the royal households and the lands beyond is depicted with great light and utmost detail:

See Medieval Tapestries

His other works include the Godspeed tapestry.

And the medieval wall hangings from the Bayeaux tapestry include various scenes of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, depicting the Norman Conquest of England through the eyes of this famous wall hanging.

So if you have a room or home with medieval theme or decor, or simply want to include the warmth and feeling of the medieval times in your home in whichever style it is, then a work in this theme can provide visual interest, an epic story to allude to or simply a piece of art which you and your friends and family can admire.

The story of Arthur and the knights of the Round Table can also be seen in tapestry art by William Morris. Morris and Co’s works were in the industrial age, but many of his pieces referred to stories and legends from Medieval periods including the works related to King Arthur, Merlin and the famous knights. See the tapestries of William Morris here.

So for an artistic statement that few other works can compare, get some medieval tapestries to turn your home into a work of art.

If you’re looking for unicorn tapestries, then have a look at this article to help you decide which is for you.

For you if you’re wanting a unicorn tapestry, including the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and the Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries, or even the Unicorn in Captivity, you may be looking for a tapestry because of 3 main reasons:

1. It’s gorgeous appearance

Yes, a mythical creature such as the unicorn is a superb image for evoking the imagination and senses.

See Unicorn Tapestries

If your home is medieval or fantasy themed, or is in any theme but simply in need of a piece of tapestry art that will evoke a sense of the mysterious creature of the unicorn or of legendary tales, then a wonderful piece here will provide the look you’re looking for.

2. The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry series

You may be looking for a replica of the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries for your home. These are works which are now in Paris’s Musee National du Moyen-Age Thermes de Cluny. They were one stage at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. These works are immensely popular as they portray authentic medieval scenes shrouded in mystery and beauty.

The coat of arms of the Le Viste family on the two flags and shields reflect the occasion of their creation which was thought to be to celebrate the appointment of Jean Le Viste to the court of Louis XI. In another theory it was thought that he ordered the six works to portray the beauty of a lady eternally in works of art that would last generations. As medieval tapestries, these six works are now found in homes and castles alike.

In either way, these works portray the 5 senses of touch, smell, vision, hearing and taste as well as a sixth depicting love.

3. The Hunt of the Unicorn

Created as a nuptual gift for Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII in 1491, this work is from a series known as the Hunt of the Unicorn, or “La Chasse de la Licorne”. In a series of works, it was thought that the unicorn represented eternal life, ability to give life and to heal, and even represent the power of healing of Christ. The original is now in The Cloisters Museum in New York City. The unicorn is captured by a hunter in a pen in some scenes and the whole legend and discussion surrounding the meaning and creation of this series of works still intrigues us today. The works were thought to have been created between 1495 and 1505.

So as you can see, the mysteries surrounding these unicorn tapestries are what adds to their interest as wall hanging art and decor for homes.

Whether you want it for their beauty or to portray two legends and stories of the unicorn and the meaning of this mythical creature in the tapestries, you can’t deny the mystery and elegance they add to any room in the home.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous set of tapestry cushions, then have a look at our latest additions here.

Tapestry cushions, be they for seat cushions, lounge cushions, or as pillows, these items will help add delight and beauty to any room or home.

So how do luxury cushions add delight to your home.

Here are 3 ways:

1. Tapestry cushions are a small piece of art, like a small sized tapestry.

These cushions in a lounge room for instance add delight and beauty as they infuse color, design or an illustration into the room.

A tapestry cushion from the Beatrix Potter collection of Peter Rabbit for instance is sheer delight for adults as well as children.

In a children’s bedroom, they are also in its perfect spot to create ambience of fun and liveliness.

See our collection of tapestry cushions and tapestry pillows here.

2. Tapestry pillows are functional.

Pillows and cushions are used for just that purpose. Cushions also offer comfort in a lounge or bed and so are useful as well as provide beauty and color to help decorate a room.

3. Tapestry cushions are a collectors item.

Many people collect items of a certain theme and tapestry cushions as well as tapestries themselves are no exception. If you enjoy Cicely Mary Barker or Beatrix Potter characters such as Peter Rabbit then you can collect items as cushions to match your books and other items in that theme. It is a great way to tie the theme of a room or bedroom together nicely.

The Beatrix Potter tapestry cushions include:

Peter Rabbit

Tom Kitten

Jemima Duck

Miss Tiggy Winkle

Squirrel Nutkin

and more.

If you have tapestries in your home on walls as wall hangings or tapestry throws, then these will match your tapestry cushions as well. Some examples of great tapestries to use are European landscape tapestries, Chenille tapestries, Flanders tapestries, medieval tapestries, romance and myth tapestries of various art eras.

So if you’re looking for furnishing that is great to look at and can be admired by friends and family, then look at these cushions and add color and form to your room or home.

The Tree of Life wall tapestry is one of the most popular tapestries and wall hangings.

When first woven by William Morris, the design of the Tree of Life which existed as a Celtic version, transformed into a version that had features which William Morris possessed in his other works from the Victorian era.

This tapestry is popular not only because of its beauty, but because of its powerful and sometimes evocative symbolism.

In the traditional interpretation of the 19th century wall hanging by Morris, the Tree of Life tapestry symbolizes the tree in the Garden of Eden bearing the forbidden fruit.

But what does this really mean?

The tree represents knowledge and the bounty that this knowledge brings. But the tree also represents knowledge that in one interpretation is meant for only the deities and thus was not meant for humans. So the story of Adam and Eve eating from the fruit was that of them being banished from the Garden of Eden. The tree in this context represented everlasting life, which has several interpretations including all knowing knowledge, or the conquering of the laws of life and death by the attainment of immortality either physical or spiritual, which implies the ongoing existence of souls in the after life and even reincarnation in future lifetimes.

So this tapestry has a multitude of possible meanings and nuances which can be made to fit the interpreter.

In the Celtic context however, the Tree of Life tapestry is used to symbolise the connection between heaven and earth. The tree reaches into heaven and the roots of the tree go deep into the earth. As such, the connection between the various realms of life are made. The Celts believed in the life force which permeates all living things including the sacred Tree of Life, and that this tree could be a conduit from which messages from their deity can be transmitted.

So whichever way you see it, this tapestry has a multilayered meaning. This tapestry, inspired by Morris & Co depicts flowers and foliage, and renders the foliage in a striking display of form and color, There is, as in many Morris tapestries, a sense of movement as the acanthus shaped leaves seem to move as they interact with each other.

The blues and greens as well as the yellows, apricots and oranges in this piece makes this piece a symbol of joy and abundance, and a celebration of Spring and nature in its own right, in addition to the heavier and more complex meanings of the Tree of Life.

Decor and art which marries home and garden such as a scene of nature and this symbolic tree brings a sense of nature into the home.

Get the Tree of Life Tapestry here and enhance your home with a work inspired by William Morris.