Revival of Tapestry

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 15

Revival of Tapestry

By

MAVIS CLARE

Most people have an idea that tapestry is soared to the world’s great museums'; and that the old-world art died with the lovely mediaeval ladies who sat patiently at their looms to work needlecraft epics of love and war. But some. few looms are always kept busy to fulfil the limited demand, and our own century has produced some exquisite work from the draftsmen find craftswomen who can use a handloom. The demand is now indubitably on the increase. It is appreciated that even the finest machine-made tapestry cannot compare with the older craft, and though modern orders are mainly for narrow strips for hangings, - there ana signs:, that a larger market will he catered for ere long. WOVEN VERSUS STITCHERY Woven tapestry is not to be confused with certain forms of stitchery. It is the last-named “tapestry work” that has given a fillip to the craft; and very beautiful crewel worljt, petit point, and groa point stitchery is in increasing request for furnishing purposes.

Women of taste like to buy a piece of work of this kind—especially, in petit point or gros point, embroidered on a canvas background—to cover a screen, and this imparts a delightful old-world atmosphere to a sitting-room. Or they have the strip stretched on a frame and hang it in a bare recess. I recently saw this tapestry stitchery used with telling effect to beautify cld-fashioaed folding doors in a very old house where, for considerations of space, it was not possible to have, the doors; thrown open. " , OPPORTUNITY FOR DESIGNERS Slowly, hut surely,, the tapestry stitch footstools, chairs, screens and settees of an older day are creeping back into favour, ana modem ' em-~ broiderers are not one whit behind their predecessors in Excellence of workmanship- But there seems a great dearth of originality of design. Why not exploit a perfectly good old art in a perfectly good modem setting? There must be any number, of young art students who could bring freshness and fin-de-siecle novelty to this ancient craft.