What Is a Belgian Tapestry?

A common floral tapestry design

Genuine Belgian tapestries, sometimes called Flemish tapestries, are typically woven of wool or silk and sometimes cotton and are manufactured at weaving mills in Belgium, Europe.

History

While Paris was originally the center of tapestry weaving in the Middle Ages, the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) forced many skilled weavers to flee to the relative safety of Flanders, which is modern-day Belgium and northern France.

Geography

Because large tapestries required large looms, numerous workers and considerable capital, weaving mills gravitated toward prosperous cities. By 1500, the Belgian cities of Brussels and Bruges were two of the major tapestry manufacturing centers in Europe.

Function

While decorative, tapestries also served very practical functions during medieval times, insulating damp and cold castle walls as well as covering windows and doorways. Their size and detailing also caused tapestries to become symbols of wealth and prestige for medieval aristocracy.

Types

Popular tapestry designs in the Middle Ages included biblical scenes, portrayals of myths and allegories in which unicorns often appeared, scenes of peasants laboring or nobles hunting, and battle scenes.

Fun Fact

Flemish weavers in the 1600s completed a 12-year apprenticeship before they were considered ready to practice the art of weaving tapestries on their own.

References

• Fine European Tapestries
• Mille Fleurs Tapestries