The modern appeal of Asian tapestries

Modern home dcor enthusiasts are often looking for new andunusual items to add a unique touch to their home accents. Whilst those in theknow have often turned to textiles and wall hangings to add that distinct touchvery few are aware of one of textile arts' hidden gems: Asian tapestry art.

Asian tapestries enjoyed a brief flurry of interest in Europe from the 17th century onwards, for about 150 years. Reflecting the growingconfidence of European nations and their ambitions to conquer the world, thesetapestries advertised the exploits of adventurous seafaring nations and helpedpublicize their travels, successes and conquests.

Known originally as Orientale tapestries they first came to prominence in the 17th century. They represented exotic for off lands like China, often concentrating on unusual items such as fruits and animals not found in Europe. They were designed to provoke audiences and challenge polite Europeans ideas aboutthe world they lived in.

Origins

Their development as an art form can be traced back to thefirst accounts of Eastern countries from Jesuit missionaries in the 17thcentury. This sparked an interest in the exotic and unusual cultures of theEast that continues to this day.

Tapestries designed in this style were very popular from the17th to the 19th century in Europe, especially France. By the mid-17th centurytales of the East were beginning to circulate amongst the aristocracy in Europe, brought back by Jesuit missionaries from the middle and far East. This created aninterest in anything related to the Orient, and artists soon responded.

Many of the early depictions of the Orient were notexperienced firsthand by artists and were often copied from engravings made bymissionaries, such was the demand for Eastern artifacts and art. During the18th and 19th centuries this interest was maintained due to the fact that thelargely non-Christian countries in the East were still sufficiently differentin culture, language and customs to seem very exotic to Europeans.

Over time this led to the development of a style of tapestryknown as Orientale. Always distinctive, they tended to be tobacco colored andfeatured striking images of exotic creatures and people, set against a vibrantbackdrop. Many were complemented with detail of local flora and fauna that wasoften remarkably accurate. Even today these tapestries continue to be popularand are a fantastic opportunity for art-aware home accent experts to addgenuine flair and vibrancy to a variety of home styles.

Oriental tapestries

One of the most distinct works of Oriental tapestry art isLa Recotte des Ananas from a series called "The Story of the Emperor ofChina". It depicts an everyday scene in China, peasants picking fruit, andis lavish in its attention to detail. It also shows the Chinese Empress gesturing towards the plentiful fruit being harvested, with a pagoda and other buildingsin the background.

The scene also depicts other tropical fruits and plants,setting the context as Eastern and distinctly non-European. Typical of theOriental style it is believed to have been woven between 1697 and 1705 andcommissioned by Louis Alexandre de Bourbon (1678 - 1737), son of Louis XIV, andmany of the details on the tapestry would never have been experienced by theartists firsthand.

By the 1660's Jesuit missionaries returning from Asia provided these details in the form of engravings, which also created a great deal ofpublic interest in life at the Chinese court. Of the original ten tapestriessix can now be seen in the Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

Two of the most famous examples include "Asia" and "Royal Elephant", both designed and woven by Charles-JeanSalloundrouze de la Mornaix between 1840 and 1843. They were intended for theexposition of Industrial Products in France in 1844 and stunned audiences withtheir vibrant use of color and their depiction of exotic lands far away.

Like all Eastern tapestries they exude a strange exoticismthat is apparent even today. In a time before mass media they did much to helppublicize to polite European society that other cultures existed and were quitedifferent from their own.

Fascinating and Appealing

Because of the unusual subject matter of the tapestries modern art lovers are finding them irresistible to temptation. Like distinct objects bought abroad and proudly displayed in the home, Asian tapestries bring an element of the exotic into any home.

Combined with the warmth of the weave found in high quality tapestries they make a real statement of taste. Whether your room is old world charm or ultra-modern minimalist, Eastern tapestries add strong color and bold imagery that can enliven any environment.

Although Eastern style tapestries enjoyed only a brief fame their appeal continues to this day. They are often fascinating documents of life overseas at the time, as well as an insight into the preoccupations of European travelers of the time. As a result even very modern home dcor enthusiasts are increasingly looking towards these forgotten artifacts of textile art for inspiration.

About the Author:

Louise Alderson writes on a number of tapestry related subjects including Eastern and Oriental tapestries.