Tapestry

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.

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.

Search “Tapestry” in Explore the Collections

Features

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What is tapestry?

Discover one of the oldest and most beautiful forms of woven textile

  1. Read

    The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries

    Four large and beautifully designed tapestries depicting the 15th century hunt of boars, bears, swans, otters, deer and falconry
  2. Interact

    The War of Troy tapestry

    Explore one of the most magnificent examples of medieval tapestry in existence

Collection highlights

Show all
  1. tapestry
    (Detail) The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, tapestry, 1425 – 30, Netherlands
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  2. pair of gloves
    Pair of gloves, made by Sheldon Tapestry Workshops, 1590 – 1610, Warwickshire, England
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  3. tapestry
    Chains, tapestry, designed by Archie Brennan, made by Dovecot Studios, 1974 – 5, Edinburgh, Scotland
    V&A South Kensington
    Not on display
  4. tapestry
    (Detail) The War of Troy, tapestry, 1475 – 90, Tournai, Belgium
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  5. tapestry
    Pink Horse and Fried Egg, tapestry, by Marta Rogoyska, 1979 – 80, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  6. chair
    (Detail) Chair, made by Georges Jacob and Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené, 1780 – 90, Paris, France
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  7. tiraz
    Tapestry fragment, unknown, 1000 – 1199. Egypt
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  8. tapestry
    (Detail) The Forest, tapestry, by William Morris, 1887, England
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
  9. tapestry
    Tapestry, 1680 – 1720, Peru
    V&A South Kensington
    On display
  10. tapestry
    (Detail) Animals by the Watering Hole, tapestry, by 'Ali Salim, 1985, Egypt
    V&A East Storehouse
    View by appointment
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Collections

Textiles

Header image:
Background image: The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries (detail), unknown, 1425 – 1430, Netherlands. Museum no. T.204-1957. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London