How are antique tapestries framed?

Antique tapestries and needleworks are typically stretched over a backing board and secured within timber mouldings made from materials like rosewood, oak, or burr maple. Many fragile wool and silk pieces are mounted behind protective glass to shield the fibres from dust, atmospheric moisture, and handling.

What periods do these pieces date from?

The pieces span multiple centuries, with significant representation from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. Listings also include examples from the Regency and Victorian eras. Materials and stitching styles often help anchor an object to a specific decade or century, such as seventeenth century embroidered panels or mid nineteenth century gros point.

How do I care for framed textiles?

Framed textiles require placement away from direct sunlight to prevent the fading of natural wool and silk threads. Maintaining a stable indoor environment protects both the fabric and the wooden frame from temperature fluctuations. Glass fronts should be cleaned carefully with a cloth sprayed with cleaner rather than applied directly, ensuring liquid does not seep behind the frame.

What is the difference between needlework and tapestry?

Needlework is stitched by hand onto an existing woven foundation fabric, such as canvas or linen, using threads like wool or silk. Examples include samplers, Berlin work, and gros point. Tapestry is traditionally a woven textile where the design is built up on a loom during the creation of the fabric itself, though the term is often applied broadly to decorative wall hangings.

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Framed Tapestry Artwork

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Framed tapestry artwork brings together centuries of hand-stitched needlework, wool work, and embroidered panels housed behind glass in period timber frames.