Throughout the middle ages Arras (located in Flanders, now part of Belgium) was the heart of tapestry weaving. Wars and history often change the seat of world power or industry. It was no different in the world of tapestries.

The earliest historical tapestries still intact that is available to us for viewing are Medieval Tapestries. Luckily many of these survived wars, famine, plundering and general lack of care over the centuries.

The definition of a tapestry is; a pictured cloth woven by a talented craftsman in which the design is an integral part of the fabric. There are 4 key elements that are essential in hand woven tapestries. They are: the loom, the artist, the weaver and dyer. Originally weavers wove their own simple designs.

When we follow the threads of any study of western culture in any aspect of its art, architecture, music, social and political history, including its wars, fashions and folk traditions, we come to a 1,000 year old art form called ‘tapestry’.