Tapestry Love

While I was back in Pennsylvania 

for the holidays, 

my mother took me to 

an amazing antique shop

in Pittsburgh called 

Artifacts.

They have over 300,000 square feet

of space filled with 

phenomenal imported antiques

and

they

ALSO

have

French Tapestries

specifically....

verdure tapestries.

My most favorite.

Close-up of an antique woven fragment.

Veranda Magazine

Lee Jofa tapestry fabric.

Verdure tapestries date back to the sixteenth century.

The word "verdure" is a derivative 

of the French word "vert" meaning green. 

Initially, these mostly green tapestries 

were characterized not only by their green tones, 

but also by their complex foliage, leafy trees, 

and flower motifs. Later pieces included additional

 objects such as woodland animals 

and architectural features such as castles, bridges, etc.

Woven works of art.

Veranda Magazine

Lee Jofa and Scalamandre have fabrics that resemble verdure tapestries.

Antique fragment.

This is a tapestry cartoon hanging in my living room
 from the archives of the Aubusson factory in France.

My husband and I found it in Paris and had it framed a few years back
during a trip to Paris. Link to Dealer

Cartoons are life-size renderings done on canvas or paper

that a tapestry weaver uses as a guide. These paintings were created 

by an artist (or cartonnier) and then taken to the tapestry client 

for approval before the weaving can begin.  

Veranda Magazine

Trouvais.com

VandM.com

   

(Top of a carved bench at Artifacts)  Please stop by Artifacts in Pittsburgh if you ever get the chance.
It is a phenomenal shop that is packed with museum-quality furnishings. Not to be missed! 

Do you have any

tapestry pieces in your home?

GIVEAWAY COMING SOON!

Stop back later this week

to enter a giveaway for an antique transferware

platter and more! A collection put together

especially for YOU, my friends and followers

who mean so much to me.

:)