The Oldest Tapestry

kash.sobhe

February 25, 2012

The Oldest Tapestry.The Cloth of St Gereon is the oldest known European tapestry still existing, dating to the early 11th century.

The seven-color tapestry shows medallions with bulls and griffins in combat. It was probably adapted from Byzantine or Syrian silk textiles. The motifs of the tapestry could also have derived from Sassanian textiles found in Cologne. The size of the Cloth of Saint Gereon fragment at the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Lyon is 74 cm by 76 cm (2.4 × 2.5 ft). The style of design, which is strong in oriental and Byzantine character, is often also found in woven silks of the eleventh century.The weave indicates an oriental maker.