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Tapestry
often evokes an image of traditional European wall hangings
utilizing the artistic designs of the classical age.
This unique line includes Floral and Garden, European Impressionist,
American Scenic, Contemporary Abstract, and Nature designs.
A design team works with established graphic artists from all
over
the United States and Europe to translate their best designs into
original handwoven images.
The result is a woven painting with warmth and texture
that easily finds a place in any interior design scheme.
These
tapestries are woven in five standard sizes, as well as custom
sizes,
keeping in mind the requirements of the modern home and office.
Our standard sizes are as follows: 16" x 24", 24"
x 40", 30" x 48", 36" x 60", 48"x
72"
The tapestries are manufactured in Pondicherry, India,
a city 100 miles south of the major southern city of Madras on
the Bay of Bengal.
The taspestries are wool tapestries woven on a cotton warp
(the threads around which the tapestry is constructed).
The design you see is all wool. We use the finest grade of carpet
wool
from the northern province of Punjab, in India.
Our color palette includes an extensive range of rich and subtle
colors.
Most of our wool is dyed by hand at the weaving center in Pondicherry
using the highest grade commercial dyes to ensure uniformity,
color-fastness and resistance to fading.
A sleeve is also sewn on the back where a rod can be slipped through
for hanging on the wall.
The wool is moth-proofed before being spun into yarn for the weaving,
and the finished tapestries are all shipped with moth balls.
Unlike machine-made tapestries, each of these designs is created
by hand
on a traditional upright loom using the finest quality carpet
wool.
The weaver sits on a stool in front of the loom to work on the
tapestry.
She works from a drawing called a cartoon, which is a black and
white rendition
of the tapestry with numbered areas corresponding to the various
colors of wool to be used.
The weaving technique used is called split-weave, so called because
there are gaps or splits
in the tapestry upon completion of the weaving,
generally wherever there are color changes in the design.
This technique allows for the depiction of very fine, life-like
detail in the design.
When the weaver is finished, the tapestry is sent to the finishing
room,
where the splits in the design are hand-sewn tightly shut
and the edges of the tapestry are turned and sewn over.
Our most intricate designs require a great deal of skill and dexterity
which only the most talented weavers can acquire.
Production time varies according to the design and the size of
each piece.
The complex designs may take a month or more for weaving even
in a small size.
Occasionally there is interest in using these hangings as rugs.
This is fine in an area where there is little foot traffic.
The overall construction of these tapestries is strong and finished
pieces are very durable,
but they are still not woven in the same manner as rugs meant
to hold up under a lot of foot traffic.
The weaving is done by young adult women from the local community
who receive special training in European style tapestry weaving.
These women are all trained at a weaving center.
The weaving center was founded in the mid 1970’s by members
of The Mother’s Service Society,
a social science research organization dedicated to national and
international development.
From its early beginnings with a few weavers and simple tapestry
designs,
the center has flourished and now employs over 100 weavers from
the local community.
These
are all women who have finished at least their secondary
school education (the equivalent of high school in this country).
We encourage everyone to continue their education into college,
and many do so, while others leave to start families. Thus we
are always training new weavers.
Many of our stock designs are displayed in this showroom.
However, we produce many custom tapestries as well,
and can therefore weave any custom design you may be interested
in.
Our
beautiful line of tapestries adapted primarily from the work of
present day artists.
The unique line includes Floral, American Scenic, Contemporary
Abstract, Nature, Animal,
and European Impressionist designs. These woven paintings possess
warmth and texture that
easily find a place in any interior design scheme. Unlike machine-made
tapestries, each
of the designs is created by hand on a traditional upright loom
using the finest quality carpet wool.
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