Tapestry is a textile art in which cloths are woven with colorful and rich designs or scenes, and these are used as wall hangings or furniture covers. Mythological and religious images, hunting scenes and floral designs are common subjects for weaving.

The art of tapestry existed much before 1500 BC and showed its prevalence in various places including Egypt. During the Hellenistic period of Greek civilization, the art of tapestry reached glorious heights. A few examples of Greek tapestry believed to be of the 2nd or 3rd BC are conserved in the desert of Tarim Basin, the largest basin in the world.

From the beginning of the 14th century, there was large scale production of tapestry in Germany and Switzerland. Later it spread its wings to France and Netherlands, and turned Arras, a small town in France, into a growing textile town. Unfortunately, this didn’t last long due to the outbreak of the French Revolution, which destroyed hundreds of unique tapestries and devastated Arras.

The 16th century saw Flanders, in north Belgium, become the center of European tapestry production. By the 18th century, the rococo and classical styles of weaving took its place. Over the years, tapestry became a major form of textile art across the world.

Tapestry weaving requires a lot of commitment and talent. A colored image is created on a cloth by using the chain thread and striking thread. The chain thread is mainly of linen or wool, while the striking thread is of silk, wool, gold or silver. These threads can also be made from other common textile materials in a wide variety of colors.

Various other products of tapestry include Jacquard looms, drapery stuffs, and carpets. There are a number of museums which hold a wide variety of antique tapestries. The Metropolitan Museum in the United States holds fine samples of tapestry.