Do the historic
tapestries of yesteryear and today’s trend for social media have much in
common? At Zardi & Zardi we recently discovered a blog written by The
Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) that examined this topic, so we decided to delve into
how the social experience
of a tapestry could have been one of the early forms of social media too.
The ways
in which we absorb content has changed over time, yet there are still undeniable
links with the past. The ever growing list of social media platforms,
televisions, smart phones, computers, tablets, newspapers and magazines have
all been invented to share content and enrich lives, with the majority of these
innovations using visual means to communicate. Tapestries can be traced back to
the ancient Greeks and therefore, could be argued that this art form is one of
the earliest ways in which social visual narratives and messages were brought to
the masses.
The
social scene starts right at the beginning of a tapestry’s existence. From the creation of the initial
cartoon (sketch) by the designers to the weavers intricately building the marvellous textiles, these skilled workers would spend weeks and months working
together to create single panels. As the MET (2014) pointed out “If you thought texting was a great way to communicate, consider the
work of these weavers: they literally let their fingers do the talking”.
Following
the creation of these magnificent pieces, often completed in the famous European
textile houses of the time, we know that most tapestries were appointed for private
noble homes; however, there were countless tapestries that were also
commissioned for public spaces such as churches, to be used for large
celebrations and festivals. But wherever these works of art hung, it would
become a sociable viewing opportunity, allowing spectators to admire, discuss
and contemplate the intricate tapestries with each other. Similar to ‘sharing’
an interesting or humorous post on Facebook the tapestries of the past were also
made for sharing, as with relative ease they could be rolled up and transported
to a different venue. Showcasing its splendour to whole new audience for
interpretation and appreciation.
As with
the different social media layouts of today, think Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
and Pinterest, tapestries were also designed in an array of formats. The three
most popular styles were armorials (crests/coat of arms), narratives (stories
using humans and animals), verdures and/or landscapes (scenery with the occasional
animal).
Vedures
and landscapes showcased what the world looked like at that time, a snap shot
from your camera phone if you like, it enabled the viewer to look at what type
of plants and trees that were in fashion, as well as favoured animals – a captured
moment.
Narratives,
similar to producing
YouTube video, used human figures and animals to project a detailed story to
the viewer, often incorporating panels that had a small ‘woven inscription explaining or commenting on the scene’ (MET, 2014). The
tapestry shown here, ‘Swan and Otter’, depicts a hunting scene, which was a very popular choice.
It shows great details and the closer you look the more it comes to life. Biblical
and mythological tales were also popular options for narrative tapestries.
The
armorial designed tapestries proclaimed to the world the professional and
family status, as well as the wealth of the noble family’s who commissioned it,
like your LinkedIn profile though maybe you wouldn’t be quite as elaborate! Click here to see an armorial tapestry displayed at the MET.
Users of
today’s social media, especially Facebook and Twitter often use it to express
their tastes, wealth, personal achievements and views, as well as to report significant
events and/or their political alliance. The tapestries of the past were no
different and often commissioned for exactly the same purposes. Social
one-upmanship is quite a common occurrence in today’s social press, namely
twitter, particularly with celebrities but nothing compares to the battle of
power and prominence of the past, when “tapestries
were an important measure of these struggles” (MET, 2014). Great rulers would try and outdo each
other by commissioning the most impressive and largest sets of tapestries,
often wooven with luxurious materials including gold- and silver-metal-wrapped
threads. It was an extremely public way using “the prestigious and expensive medium of the tapestry to make a
statement about larger widespread political struggles that ultimately shaped
the course of history” (MET, 2014).
As part
of the process of commissioning spectacular tapestries, the nobles would also
want their likeness or subjects likeness to be pleasing to the eye. Artists in
previous centuries are well known for aesthetically enhancing the physical
appearance of their subjects and many tapestries also received this treatment.
If you think about it today, is similar to an Instagram filtered image. It
seems that no matter what era, the viewing public like to see art at its best.
The elaborate tapestries were also wonderful for allowing spectators to admire
and take note of the fashionable clothing trends, popular architecture, types
of interiors, as well as landscapes and horticultural designs. Creating a
desire for that very fashion in their own abodes and wardrobes, comparable to designing
and viewing a Pinterest board on your tablet or phone.
Social
media is the modern equivalent of a grand tapestry communicating to the masses
and the technology platforms of today allow us to weave together events, styles
and views of our lives for an external audience to see, admire, criticise and
comment. There is a whole myriad of other messages that could be communicated
through the textiles. Please take a look on our website and see what stories
you can uncover in our Classic, Bespoke and Unique Collections.
“If you ever find
yourself lost for words, you can still say it with a tapestry” (MET, 2014).
