As far back as the ancient Greeks, hand-woven tapestry art was believed to be an important means for decorating affluent homes and important buildings. Tapestry art was even thought to have covered the walls of the Parthenon.
During the Middle Ages and through the Hundred Years war, France was considered the world’s most important producer of tapestry, with Paris being the tapestry capital of the western world. Unfortunately, during Hundred years War, with pillaging and unrest, many woven tapestry pieces were lost or burned for their precious metal content. Eventually tapestry artists, skilled dyers and tapestry craftsmen moved north towards Flanders into what today is called Holland and Belgium.
Today, most surviving pieces of original hand-woven tapestry art are from the 16th to the 19th century. During that time construction consisted mainly of Picardy wool, Italian silk, and gold and silver threads imported from Cyprus.