How to Research Tapestries
The panel addresses the recent calls for a renewed research method in field of tapestry studies.
As Guy Delmarcel (2012) argues, “every type of artwork has different research needs. […] the art of tapestries contains specific aspects that led to employ its own method of research”. These “specific aspects” and research method for tapestries will be investigated in the panel.
Tapestries have been usually approached and studied as “woven paintings”. However, these luxurious and complex artefacts are far more complex. Indeed, tapestries are the result of entrepreneurial efforts, materials, trade, crafts and manufacture. The session reflects on how to study and research tapestries as an independent and autonomous medium rather than “woven paintings”. It aims to bring together different and new theoretical approaches to study tapestries in the production, manufacturing processes and material culture. We encourage papers from different historical and geographical contexts.
Themes might cover:
- approaches to tapestries studies
- manufacturing history of tapestries
- the choice of materials, weavers, entrepreneurs and tapestry workers
- involvement of women weaving tapestries
- the making of cartoons
- 7-digital humanities and tapestries
The session invites papers of 20 minutes. A facilitated debate will follow the papers.
Submit your Paper via this form. Please download, complete and send it directly to the Session Convenor(s) below by Sunday 2 November 2025:
Carlo Scapecchi, Arden University, cscapecchi@arden.ac.uk