Tapestry

Room 94

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Tapestry is one of the oldest forms of woven textiles. For centuries these beautiful objects were among the most magnificent possessions of kings, princes and popes. Our collection ranges from medieval and Renaissance masterpieces to the finest examples of contemporary tapestry design.

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The V&A has recognised the importance of tapestry since it was founded, acquiring five important medieval and Renaissance pieces in the 1850s. The collection has grown to include many varieties of tapestry weaving, from fragments of Egyptian tapestry, to the magnificent Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, and modern works by contemporary designers, including Marta Rogoyska and Ali Salim.

Collection Highlights

tapestry
(Detail) The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, tapestry, 1425 – 30, Netherlands
pair of gloves
Pair of gloves, made by Sheldon Tapestry Workshops, 1590 – 1610, Warwickshire, England
tapestry
Chains, tapestry, designed by Archie Brennan, made by Dovecot Studios, 1974 – 5, Edinburgh, Scotland
tapestry
(Detail) The War of Troy, tapestry, 1475 – 90, Tournai, Belgium
tapestry
Pink Horse and Fried Egg, tapestry, by Marta Rogoyska, 1979 – 80, England
chair
(Detail) Chair, made by Georges Jacob and Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené, 1780 – 90, Paris, France
tiraz
Tapestry fragment, unknown, 1000 – 1199. Egypt
tapestry
(Detail) The Forest, tapestry, by William Morris, 1887, England
tapestry
Tapestry, 1680 – 1720, Peru
tapestry
(Detail) Animals by the Watering Hole, tapestry, by 'Ali Salim, 1985, Egypt
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Background image: Background image: The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries (detail), unknown, 1425 – 1430, Netherlands. Museum no. T.204-1957. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London