Exotic appeal: Eastern and Oriental Tapestries

La Recolte des Ananas

For modern home décor we are often looking for new and unusual items to add a unique touch to our home accents. Textiles and wall hangings add that distinct touch though few of us are aware of one of textile arts hidden gems: oriental tapestries. Eastern and oriental tapestries enjoyed a period of interest in Europe from the 17th century onwards, for about 150 years. Reflecting the growing confidence of European nations and their ambitions to conquer the world, these tapestries advertised the exploits of adventurous seafaring nations and helped publicize their travels, successes and conquests. Known originally as Orientale tapestries they represented exotic far-off lands like China, often concentrating on unusual items such as fruits and animals not found in Europe. Their development as an art form can be traced back to the first accounts of Eastern countries from Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century which sparked an interest in the exotic and unusual cultures of the East that continues to this day. This created an interest in anything related to the Orient and artists soon responded. During the 18th and 19th centuries this interest was maintained since the largely non-Christian countries in the East were still sufficiently different in culture, language and customs to seem very exotic to Europeans. Always distinctive, these Orientale tapestries tended to be tobacco colored and featured striking images of exotic creatures and people set against a vibrant backdrop. Many had details of local flora and fauna that was often remarkably accurate. Even today these tapestries continue to be popular and are a fantastic opportunity for art connoisseurs to add genuine flair and vibrancy to their homes. One of the most distinct of Oriental tapestries is "La Recolte des Ananas" from a series The Pineapple Harvest tapestry - The Story of the Emperor of China tapestriescalled "The Story of the Emperor of China". It shows an detailed everyday scene in China of peasants picking fruit and of the Chinese Empress gesturing towards the pineapple harvest, with a pagoda and other buildings in the background. Typical of the Oriental style it is believed to have been woven between 1697 and 1705 and commissioned by Louis Alexandre de Bourbon (1678 - 1737), son of Louis XIV. Of the original ten tapestries, six can now be seen in the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Two of the most famous examples of such oriental tapoestries include “Asia” and “Royal Elephant” both designed and woven by Charles-Jean Salloundrouze de la Mornaix between 1840 and 1843. They were intended for the exposition of Industrial Products in France in 1844 and impressed audiences with their vibrant use of color and their depiction of exotic lands far away. Like all Eastern tapestries they exude a strange exoticism that is apparent even today. 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 and oriental tapestries add strong color and bold imagery that can enliven any environment. Save Save Save Save