How do I care for my tapestry?

As with any work of art, direct sunlight will fade colors over time, especially for tapestries with natural dyes. We recommend hanging your tapestry in an area that avoids direct sun exposure to maintain vibrancy. To clean your woven tapestry, use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or dry clean if necessary. Spot treatment can also be used with a gentle fabric cleaner, but we recommend testing it on a small area first. Alternatively, you may hand wash your tapestry using cold water, then hang it to dry in the shade. Some tapestries made from cotton fabric may be machine washed on cold.

What are the most common materials used to make tapestries?

When it comes to handcrafted traditional tapestries, the most common materials include wool, cotton, silk, and natural dyes. Certain regions incorporate unique materials or designs into their tapestries. In the Andes, alpaca fiber is commonly used. In India, one finds batik printed cotton. In Mexico and Central America sheep wool and natural cotton threads are frequently used. In Thailand, rich silk material is a feature of handmade tapestries.

What makes a tapestry eco-friendly?

To craft an eco-friendly tapestry, traditional artisans hold themselves to high standards, both in terms of materials and processes. Natural fibers, textiles, and dyes are derived from plants and trees. Some artisans even incorporate recycled or upcycled materials in their commitment to eco-friendly processes. Traditional art forms that are passed down through the generations are often painstakingly made by hand. They are naturally eco-friendly, as they avoid mass production, factory runoff, and industrial waste. This also means that each tapestry is uniquetruly one of a kind.

Are tapestries a good way to insulate a room?

When it comes to tapestries, function meets style! A handmade tapestry can be a great way to brighten up any living space while providing insulation against the cold. Materials like alpaca and sheep wool create natural warmth by trapping cool air inside the cloth, creating a more stable temperature within the room.

Are tapestries handmade?

While factory-produced tapestries are increasingly available to consumers, traditional, authentic tapestries are handmade by artisans who often learn the artform from older generations. Skilled makers from the Andes, India, Mexico and Thailand make use of foot-treadle or backstrap looms, where they interweave warp and weft threads and then tamp them down into a tight stitch. An artisan may finish a handmade tapestry by using a needle and thread or a sewing machine for final touches.

What are the most popular tapestry designs?

Traditional tapestries depict scenes and images which are drawn from the lives and natural environments of the artisans who craft them. Some include geometric designs, like the mandala, which is thought to represent wholeness and symmetry. Others make use of paisley, floral, or leafy patterns, particularly in tapestries from India. Central American tapestries may incorporate geometric motifs, animals, and people, while Mexican tapestries are often colorful with Greca patterns and designs. Thai artisans use symbols that are popular within Thai culture, religious characters, animal scenes, or depictions of human forms. Unique tapestries from the Andes are often vibrant with elaborate scenes that incorporate folklore, village life, and pastoral existence.

What are traditional methods of making tapestries?

The methods for making tapestries vary as widely as the regions from which they come. Because many traditional artisans adopt the methods of their ancestors, they have kept those ancient artforms alive and well. In the Andes, weavers often work on a wooden treadle loom in which they use foot pedals, called treadles, to control the weave of the tapestry. In Central America, the treadle loom and the backstrap loom are both integral to tapestry art. The backstrap loom is one of the oldest techniques which dates back thousands of years, in which one part of the loom is attached to the weaver and the other part is attached to a fixed object (historically, a tree). To create vibrant color, artisans embroider and dye their tapestries with natural plants and pigments. Around the world, weavers use tie-dye, Dabu (the application of wax or gum clay and resin to the cloth to create a diffuse color effect), Batik (an ancient method in which dye-resistant wax is applied to cloth to create select patterns of color), hand embroidery, and patchwork to create unique and diverse tapestry art.

Where did tapestries originate?

The tapestry is an ancient textile art form that dates back thousands of years to early civilizations in Peru, Egypt, and Thailand. In Peru, skilled weavers used colorful camelid fiber threads to create beautiful tapestries for ritualistic funeral mantles. Ancient Incas wove short tunics (Unku) to show importance and social status. Ancient Egyptians crafted shroud-like tapestries to bury their dead. Tapestries gained international prominence when Europeans began to decorate their castles and churches with elaborate textiles that depicted historical scenes, as well as religious messages. Today, skilled artisans preserve the ancient techniques of their ancestors. In Thailand, for example, silk weavers are renowned for techniques that have been used since the rule of the Angkor kings circa 800 A.D. In Central America, contemporary weavers pay homage to early Mayan artisans who used plants, shells, and even snails to color their first tapestries in the 15th century. In India, where some of the first tapestries were made and the textile industry became the base of their economy, the skills of generations past still live on in modern artisans.

Eco Friendly Wall Decor at NOVICA

Recycled paper wall sculpture, 'Unique Starfish' - Recycled Paper Starfish Wall Art Sculpture Crafted by Hand

Bestseller

Unique Starfish, Recycled Paper Starfish Wall Art Sculpture Crafted by Hand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$39.99 Wholesale

$39.99

Teak wood relief panel, 'Classic Lotus' (set of 5) - Reclaimed Teak Wood Lotus-Motif Relief Panel (Set of 5)

Classic Lotus, Reclaimed Teak Wood Lotus-Motif Relief Panel (Set of 5)

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$1099.99 Wholesale

$1099.99

Auto part key rack, 'Rustic Motorcycle' - Mexico Auto Part Sculpture Handmade Bike Theme Key Rack

Bestseller

Rustic Motorcycle, Mexico Auto Part Sculpture Handmade Bike Theme Key Rack

Armando Ramirez

(662)

$69.99 Wholesale

$69.99

Wood wall sculpture, 'Fairy-tale Dragonfly' - Painted Gamal and Jempinis Wood Dragonfly Wall Sculpture

Bestseller

Fairy-tale Dragonfly, Painted Gamal and Jempinis Wood Dragonfly Wall Sculpture

Made Arsa

$89.99 Wholesale

$89.99

Reclaimed teak wood relief panels, 'Modern Lotus' (set of 4) - Hand Carved Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 4)

Modern Lotus, Hand Carved Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 4)

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$824.99 Wholesale

$824.99

Splendid Garden, Hand Painted Circular Teak Wood Relief Panel from Thailand

Amporn

(75)

$529.99 Wholesale

$529.99

Elephant Quartet, Reclaimed Teak Wood Elephant Relief Panel

Amporn

(75)

$489.99 Wholesale

$489.99

Curated gift set, 'House Full of Cats' - Curated Cat Gift Set with Figurine Wall Art and 3 Ornaments

Gift Set | House Full of Cats, Curated Cat Gift Set with Figurine Wall Art and 3 Ornaments

$124.17

~~$137.97~~ $124.17

Baroque Faith, Baroque-Inspired Pewter and Reclaimed Stone Wall Cross

Rosales Family

(22)

$34.99 Wholesale

$34.99

Rustic Flowers, Eco-Friendly Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panel

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$349.99 Wholesale

$349.99

Kartini, Handcrafted Contemporary Wood Wall Mirror

Jajak

$159.99 Wholesale

$159.99

Childhood Dream, Fringed Bird-Themed Wool Tapestry Hand-Woven in Peru

David Laura Zanabria

(20)

$207.99 Wholesale

$207.99

Fierce Piranha, Thai Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture of Green Piranha Fish

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$54.99 Wholesale

$54.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Macaw Fantasy' - Macaw Wall Accent Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Extended delivery

Macaw Fantasy, Macaw Wall Accent Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Toucan Inspiration' - Toucan Wall Accent Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Extended delivery

Toucan Inspiration, Toucan Wall Accent Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Mimi, White Papier Mache Cat Wall Hook

Caribbean Craft

(2)

$20.99 Wholesale

~~$29.99~~ $20.99

Amber Crystal Glow, Handcrafted Antiqued Aluminum Repousse Floral Wall Mirror

Margarita Revilla

(6)

$139.99 Wholesale

$139.99

Honor Ganesha, Hinduism Art Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture of Lord Ganesha

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$54.99 Wholesale

$54.99

Romantic Heart, Recycled Paper Heart Wall Sculpture from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Vision of Java, Teak Wood mirror

Jajak

$299.99 Wholesale

$299.99

Little Purple Nature, Purple Gamal and Jempinis Wood Mushroom Wall Sculpture

Made Arsa

$79.99 Wholesale

$79.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Iguana Charm' - Costa Rican Hand-Carved Dried Calabash Gourd Iguana Wall Art

Extended delivery

Iguana Charm, Costa Rican Hand-Carved Dried Calabash Gourd Iguana Wall Art

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Gateway Owl, Upcycled Auto Part Key Rack Owl from Mexico

Armando Ramirez

(662)

$79.99 Wholesale

$79.99

Blossom Day, Hand Made Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panels

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$277.99 Wholesale

$277.99

Pewter and reclaimed stone wall cross, 'Lithe Cross' - Handmade Pewter and Reclaimed Stone Wall Cross from Mexico

Bestseller

Lithe Cross, Handmade Pewter and Reclaimed Stone Wall Cross from Mexico

Rosales Family

(22)

$34.99 Wholesale

$34.99

Floral Ballad, Recycled Patchwork Floral Wall Hanging from India

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Sylvan Aesthetics, Minimalist Handcrafted Steam Beech Wood Coat Rack from India

Ashish Mehta

(259)

$39.99 Wholesale

$39.99

Blue Crystal Glow, Floral-Themed Mexican Antiqued Aluminum Repousse Wall Mirror

Margarita Revilla

(6)

$139.99 Wholesale

$139.99

Inspiring Young Buddha, Buddha Portrait Handmade Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Eye of Buddha, Recycled Paper Relief Panel of Buddha from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$89.99 Wholesale

$89.99

Birdy, Artisan Crafted Bird Wall Hook

Caribbean Craft

(2)

$20.99 Wholesale

~~$29.99~~ $20.99

Map of Asia, Handmade Patchwork South Asia Map Wall Hanging

Alaya Cholprasertsuk

(93)

$439.99 Wholesale

$439.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Toucan Dream' - Toucan-Themed Wall Art Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Extended delivery

Toucan Dream, Toucan-Themed Wall Art Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Meditating Hand, Recycled Paper Relief Panel of a Hand from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$44.99 Wholesale

$44.99

Timeless Faith, Handcrafted Classic Pewter and Reclaimed Stone Wall Cross

Rosales Family

(22)

$34.99 Wholesale

$34.99

Reclaimed teakwood wall panels, 'Lavish Blooms' (triptych) - Hand-carved Reclaimed Teakwood Relief Triptych Wall Panel

Lavish Blooms, Hand-carved Reclaimed Teakwood Relief Triptych Wall Panel

Kittiwannakul Family

(2)

$364.99 Wholesale

$364.99

Fabulous Elephant, Recycled Patchwork Elephant Wall Hanging from India

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Pigi, Handmade Papier Mache Decorative Hook

Caribbean Craft

(2)

$20.99 Wholesale

~~$29.99~~ $20.99

Reclaimed teak wood relief panels, 'Unfolding Lotus' (set of 3) - Handmade Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 3)

Unfolding Lotus, Handmade Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 3)

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$584.99 Wholesale

$584.99

Octopus Power, Octopus Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$54.99 Wholesale

$54.99

Seahorse Omen, Recycled Paper Seahorse Wall Sculpture Handmade in Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$54.99 Wholesale

$54.99

Floral Window, Floral Geometric Recycled Cotton Blend Wall Hanging

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Ganesha Circle, Recycled Paper Relief Panel of Ganesha from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Vibrant Bouquet, Floral Geometric Recycled Patchwork Wall Hanging from India

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Up Recycled Paper Relief Panel from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$44.99 Wholesale

$44.99

Enchanting Nature, Wood Wall Art with Painted Yellow Mushrooms Made in Bali

Made Arsa

$69.99 Wholesale

$69.99

Prosperous Crab, Recycled Paper Crab 5-in Wall Ornament Handmade in Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$44.99 Wholesale

$44.99

Inspiring Frangipani, Flower Wall Adornment Handmade Recycled Paper Sculpture

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$54.99 Wholesale

$54.99

Little Nature, Mushroom-Themed Gamal and Jempinis Wood Wall Sculpture

Made Arsa

$69.99 Wholesale

$69.99

Friendly Wave, Hand-Shaped Recycled Paper Relief Panel from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$39.99 Wholesale

$39.99

Blushing Lotus, Buddhist and Hindu Art Lotus Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$37.99 Wholesale

$37.99

Spiraling Lotus, Reclaimed Teak Wood Lotus Flower Relief Panel

Amporn

(75)

$489.99 Wholesale

$489.99

Magnificent Owl, Green Gold Owl Recycled Paper Wall Sculpture from Thailand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$44.99 Wholesale

$44.99

Playful Monkey, Recycled Paper Monkey Wall Art Sculpture Crafted by Hand

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$57.99 Wholesale

$57.99

Dalma, Dog Motif Papier Mache Wall Hook

Caribbean Craft

(2)

$17.49 Wholesale

~~$24.99~~ $17.49

The Golden Bodhi, Thai Golden Bodhi Tree Relief Panel

Amporn

(75)

$519.99 Wholesale

$519.99

Reclaimed teak wood relief panels, 'Flower Art' (set of 3) - Eco-Friendly Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 3)

Flower Art, Eco-Friendly Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 3)

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$537.99 Wholesale

$537.99

Honor Om, Hinduism Art Wall Panel Hand Crafted with Recycled Paper

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$89.99 Wholesale

$89.99

Paisley Glamour, Paisley Motif Cotton Blend Patchwork Wall Hanging from India

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Saint Benedict, Saint Benedict Pewter and Reclaimed Stone Wall Cross

Rosales Family

(22)

$37.99 Wholesale

$37.99

Java Memory, Teak Wood mirror

Jajak

$249.99 Wholesale

$249.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Toucan Magic' - Toucan Wall Art Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Extended delivery

Toucan Magic, Toucan Wall Art Hand-Carved in Dried Calabash Gourd

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Cat Nap, Sleepy Cat Wall Adornment Handmade Recycled Paper Sculpture

Somyot Sawasdee

(19)

$44.99 Wholesale

$44.99

Reclaimed teak wood relief panels, 'Flora Charm' (set of 3) - 3 Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panels Hand-carved in Thailand

Flora Charm, 3 Reclaimed Teak Wood Relief Panels Hand-carved in Thailand

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$539.99 Wholesale

$539.99

Dried gourd wall art, 'Toucan Charm' - Costa Rican Hand-Carved Dried Calabash Gourd Toucan Wall Art

Extended delivery

Toucan Charm, Costa Rican Hand-Carved Dried Calabash Gourd Toucan Wall Art

Guevara Cabalceta Family

$49.99 Wholesale

$49.99

Purple Woods, Purple-Toned Wood Mushroom Wall Sculpture from Bali

Made Arsa

$79.99 Wholesale

$79.99

Lotus Charm, Artisan Crafted Teak Wood Relief Panels (Set of 3)

Eve Naewmaung

(5)

$329.99 Wholesale

$329.99

Russet Paisleys, Recycled Patchwork Paisley Wall Hanging in Russet from India

Anil Khandelwal

(77)

$109.99 Wholesale

$109.99

Wool tapestry, 'Andean Cholas' - Ayacucho Wool Tapestry with Andean Chola Women Motif

Coming back

Andean Cholas, Ayacucho Wool Tapestry with Andean Chola Women Motif

Gerardo Fernandez

(1)

$79.99 Wholesale

$79.99

Wood wall art, 'Harmonious Hummingbirds' - Wood Wall Art with Hand-Painted Hummingbirds from Bali

Coming back

Harmonious Hummingbirds, Wood Wall Art with Hand-Painted Hummingbirds from Bali

Made Arsa

$89.99 Wholesale

$89.99

Welcome!

New Wishlist

Unique Gifts

Curated Gift Boxes

Build Your Own Gift Sets

Express Gifts

Gift Cards

Special Collections

Women's Jewelry

Men's Jewelry

Materials

Collections

Popular & New

Women's Clothing

Women's Accessories

Men's Fashion

Handbags

Seasonal Collections

Home Accessories

Home Furnishings

Kitchen and Dining

Decor Collections

Special Collections

Discipline

Subject Matter

Color Themes

Special Collections

Explore, Empower, Impact

Call 1-877-266-8422

Eco Friendly Wall Decor

Related Categories

Unique Finds

The Village Council

Featured Reviews

Somyot Sawasdee Recycled paper sculptures

The Holiday Catalog