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.

Leaf and Tree Wall Decor at NOVICA

Wool chain stitch tapestry, 'Abode of Birds II' - Bird-Themed Wool Chain Stitch Tapestry from India

Bestseller

Abode of Birds II, Bird-Themed Wool Chain Stitch Tapestry from India

Amit Moza

(44)

$99 Wholesale

$99

Steel wall art, 'Sunset Oak' - Oak Tree at Sunset Hand Crafted Steel Wall Art from Mexico

Bestseller

Sunset Oak, Oak Tree at Sunset Hand Crafted Steel Wall Art from Mexico

Alejandro de Esesarte

(323)

$189 Wholesale

$189

Wood relief panel, 'Ethereal Leaves' - Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of a Leafy Tree from Bali

Bestseller

Ethereal Leaves, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of a Leafy Tree from Bali

Sarwaedi

(155)

$84 Wholesale

$84

Ancient Tree, Intricate Tree Suar Wood Relief Panel from Bali

Wayan Rendah

(614)

$117 Wholesale

$117

Wood relief panel, 'Feeding Ducks' - Hand Carved Suar Wood Wall Panel Farmer Traditional Bali

Bestseller

Feeding Ducks, Hand Carved Suar Wood Wall Panel Farmer Traditional Bali

Made Mulyani

(225)

$64 Wholesale

$64

Recycled metal wall mirror, 'Heart of the Andes' - Hand-Painted Floral Heart-Themed Recycled Metal Wall Mirror

Bestseller

Heart of the Andes, Hand-Painted Floral Heart-Themed Recycled Metal Wall Mirror

Araujo Family

(9)

$67 Wholesale

$67

Natural Grace, Guatemalan Artisan Crafted Carved Wood Wall Mirror

Valenzuela Family

(2)

$224 Wholesale

$224

Felicitous Nature, Handmade Nature-Themed Metallic Foil and Steel Tree Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$519 Wholesale

$519

Tree Hugger, Suar Wood Relief Panel with Tree Motif

Ketut Sudantara

(13)

$94 Wholesale

$94

Face of the Blazing Underworld, Day of the Dead Hand-Painted Orange Skull Ceramic Wall Art

Jorge Escamilla

(2)

$59 Wholesale

$59

Wood relief panel, 'Floral Jungle' - Hand-Carved Brown Leafy and Floral Relief Panel from Bali

Bestseller

Floral Jungle, Hand-Carved Brown Leafy and Floral Relief Panel from Bali

Made Mulyani

(225)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Wood, resin and natural flower wall art, 'Ethereal Ember' - Modern Wood Resin Dried Flowers and Leaves Wall Art

New Arrival

Ethereal Ember, Modern Wood Resin Dried Flowers and Leaves Wall Art

Martin Halpin

$699 Wholesale

$699

Resin-coated wood and natural fiber wall art, 'Batch Origins' - Sylvan-Themed Handmade Longan Wood Natural Fiber Wall Art

New Arrival

Batch Origins, Sylvan-Themed Handmade Longan Wood Natural Fiber Wall Art

Martin Halpin

$674 Wholesale

$674

Moon Over Garden, Hand Made Suar Wood Moon-Motif Relief Panel

Made Mulyani

(225)

$79 Wholesale

$79

Growing Bamboo, Hand Carved Suar Wood Leaf-Motif Relief Panel

Made Mulyani

(225)

$69 Wholesale

$69

Supreme Nature, Inspirational Handmade Metallic Foil and Steel Tree Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$499 Wholesale

$499

Tree of Life, Tree of Life-Themed Hand-Carved Distressed Wood Relief Panel

Shashi Moza

$39 Wholesale

$39

Heartbeat, Nature-Themed Cotton and Wool Blend Wall Art with Frame

Carolina Cabrera

$759 Wholesale

$759

The Macaw, Artisan-Made Cedarwood Key Holder with Macaw Bird Portrait

Hugo Pichiya

(1)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Victorious Nature, Inspirational Golden and Silver Foil and Steel Tree Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$519 Wholesale

$519

Beautiful Plumage, Hand-Painted Cedarwood Key Holder with Quetzal Bird Portrait

Hugo Pichiya

(1)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Wisest Nature, Inspirational Handmade Gold Foil and Steel Tree Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$419 Wholesale

$419

Bodhi Nature, Inspirational Handmade Leafy Gold Foil and Iron Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$569 Wholesale

$569

Celestial Tree, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of Leafy Tree from Bali

Seji Taram

(313)

$109 Wholesale

$109

Rainbow Jay, Hand-Painted Cedar Wood & Pine Needle Bird Wall Accent

Jessica and Lorena

(1)

$109 Wholesale

$109

Bee-Eaters, Hand-Painted Cedar Wood & Pine Needle Bee-Eaters Wall Accent

Jessica and Lorena

(1)

$117 Wholesale

$117

Face of the Mystic Underworld, Day of the Dead Floral-Themed Green Skull Ceramic Wall Art

Jorge Escamilla

(2)

$59 Wholesale

$59

Reverse-painted glass wall mirror, 'Radiant Clarity' - Round Floral Warm-Toned Reverse-Painted Glass Wall Mirror

Bestseller

Radiant Clarity, Round Floral Warm-Toned Reverse-Painted Glass Wall Mirror

Flora Polo

(86)

$99.20 Wholesale

~~$124~~ $99.20

Autumn Song, Handcrafted Leaf Relief Panel

Eka

(659)

$69 Wholesale

$69

Buddha's Forest, Handmade Gold Foil and Steel Wall Art of Buddha and Tree

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$429 Wholesale

$429

Om Sanctuary, Balinese Hand-Carved and Hand-Painted Om Wood Relief Panel

Made Mulyani

(225)

$84 Wholesale

$84

Miraculous Nature, Nature-Themed Metallic Foil and Steel Tree Wall Art

Narakorn Wongnitkorn

$519 Wholesale

$519

Garden of Eden, Nativity and Garden of Eden-Themed Wood Ceramic Wall Mirror

Alejandro Chavez

(206)

$37 Wholesale

$37

Multi-gemstone wall hanging, 'Yggdrasil's Embrace' - Yggdrasil Tree-Themed Golden Multi-Gemstone Wall Hanging

Bestseller

Yggdrasil's Embrace, Yggdrasil Tree-Themed Golden Multi-Gemstone Wall Hanging

Swasti Jain

(1)

$47 Wholesale

$47

Bird Fauna, Bird-Themed Handloomed Blue Andean Wool Tapestry from Peru

Eliazar Ochoa

(40)

$129 Wholesale

$129

Jungle Monarch, Nature-Themed Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of Lions

Eka

(659)

$99 Wholesale

$99

Wood relief panel, 'Sprouting Tree' - Hand-Carved Decorative Tree Wooden Panel

Bestseller

Sprouting Tree, Hand-Carved Decorative Tree Wooden Panel

Made Mulyani

(225)

$67 Wholesale

$67

Floral Fascination, Traditional Floral Marble Dust Relief Wall Art from India

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$304 Wholesale

$304

Harmony Vibes, Balinese-Made Nature-Themed Suar Wood Elephant Relief Panel

Eka

(659)

$99 Wholesale

$99

Hummingbird Passage in Blue, Handwoven Bird-Themed Blue Wool and Cotton Blend Tapestry

Cerapio Vallejo

(52)

$349 Wholesale

$349

Harmony with Nature, Indian-Made Traditional Crimson Wool Chain-Stitched Tapestry

Amit Moza

(44)

$127 Wholesale

$127

Tree Connection, Nature-Themed Floral Handmade Marble Dust Relief Wall Art

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$304 Wholesale

$304

Lover Birds, Signed Handmade Bird Art from India

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$139 Wholesale

$139

Flowering Shimmer, Artisan Crafted Suar Wood Relief Panel

Ketut Sudantara

(13)

$89 Wholesale

$89

Tree of Joy, Bird-Themed Wool and Cotton Blend Tapestry from Peru

Cerapio Vallejo

(52)

$569 Wholesale

$569

Asasaawa, Wall Mirror with Brightly Printed Fabric Frame from Ghana

Rita Addo Zakour

(273)

$99 Wholesale

$99

Midnight Birds I, Bird and Nature-Themed Handmade Marble Dust Relief Wall Art

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$317 Wholesale

$317

Bird Song, Framed Hand Painted Bird Art from India

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$149 Wholesale

$149

Buddha's Paradise, Hand-Painted Lotus-Themed Suar Wood Relief Panel of Buddha

Made Mulyani

(225)

$87 Wholesale

$87

Bird Connection, Nature-Themed Painted Marble Dust Relief Wall Art

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$304 Wholesale

$304

Wood wall accents, 'Eden Valley' (set of 3) - Set of 3 Forest-Themed White and Golden Wood Relief Panels

Eden Valley, Set of 3 Forest-Themed White and Golden Wood Relief Panels

Mohammad Hussain Baba

(45)

$189 Wholesale

$189

Midnight Birds II, Bird and Nature-Themed Painted Marble Dust Relief Wall Art

Neelima Gupta

(4)

$304 Wholesale

$304

At Kokrobite Beach, Artisan Crafted Batik Wall Art

Samuel Ashong

(4)

$179 Wholesale

$179

Hibiscus Garden, Hand Carved Suar Wood Tree-Motif Relief Panel

Ketut Sudantara

(13)

$87 Wholesale

$87

Mornings in Costa Rica, Hand-Painted Leafy White Iron and Laurel Wood Key Rack

Susana Rubinstein

$99 Wholesale

$99

Hummingbird Tree, Colorful Handwoven Andean Wool Tapestry with Bird Motifs

Cerapio Vallejo

(52)

$319 Wholesale

$319

Wool chain stitch tapestry, 'Abode of Birds I' - Hand Crafted Indian Chain Stitch Tapestry

Bestseller

Abode of Birds I, Hand Crafted Indian Chain Stitch Tapestry

Amit Moza

(44)

$119 Wholesale

$119

Wood cross, 'Celestial Prayers' - Hand-Painted Floral White and Green Wood Cross from Mexico

Bestseller

Celestial Prayers, Hand-Painted Floral White and Green Wood Cross from Mexico

Margarita Revilla

(6)

$17 Wholesale

$17

Tree Cross, Cross and Tree-Themed Suar Wood Relief Panel from Bali

Sarwaedi

(155)

$79 Wholesale

$79

Wood relief panels, 'Night Valley' (set of 3) - Set of 3 Forest-Themed Black and Golden Wood Relief Panels

Night Valley, Set of 3 Forest-Themed Black and Golden Wood Relief Panels

Mohammad Hussain Baba

(45)

$189 Wholesale

$189

Grape Season, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Grapevine Relief Panel from Bali

Made Mulyani

(225)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Crimson Dragonfly, Wood Wall Art with Hand-Painted Dragonfly Motifs from Bali

Made Arsa

$59 Wholesale

$59

Tree of Strawberries, Handcrafted Suar Wood Tree Wall Relief Panel from Bali

Eka

(659)

$69 Wholesale

$69

Floral Dream, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel with Flowers and Leaves

Seji Taram

(313)

$109 Wholesale

$109

Life Origin, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Leafy Relief Panel from Bali

Made Mulyani

(225)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Reflective Leaves, Hand Carved Cedar Wood Leaves Rectangle Glass Mirror

Ralph Ashong

(6)

$389 Wholesale

$389

Frangipani Blessing, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of a Floral Cross

Sarwaedi

(155)

$84 Wholesale

$84

Mysterious Tree of Life, Andean Handwoven Nature Theme Tree of Life Tapestry

Luis Leon

(12)

$109 Wholesale

$109

Vibrant Blossoming, Floral Painted Hand-Carved Sese Wood Wall Art in Warm Hues

Winnie Mandela Koranteng

$97 Wholesale

$97

Reflections in White, Handmade Openwork Distressed Wall and Tabletop Wood Mirror

Khalid Ali

(122)

$147 Wholesale

$147

Batik wall hanging, 'Sankofa Aklowa' - African Cotton Batik Folk Art Wall Hanging

Bestseller

Sankofa Aklowa, African Cotton Batik Folk Art Wall Hanging

K. Baka

(27)

$64 Wholesale

$64

Nights in Costa Rica, Hand-Painted Leafy Black Iron and Laurel Wood Key Rack

Susana Rubinstein

$99 Wholesale

$99

Ganesha's Wisdom, Brown Suar Wood Leafy Relief Panel of Sage Ganesha

Wayan Nuliati

(25)

$114 Wholesale

$114

At the Farm, Handcrafted Natural Fiber Landscape Wall Art from Ghana

Samuel Lovi

(8)

$184 Wholesale

$184

Rabbits At Play, Nature-Themed Wood Relief Panel with Rabbit and Heart Motif

Made Mulyani

(225)

$77 Wholesale

$77

Innocent Lily, Hand-Carved Traditional Lily-Themed Suar Wood Relief Panel

Made Mulyani

(225)

$49 Wholesale

$49

Tree of Three Flowers, Suar Wood Relief Panel of a Tree with Three Flowers

Luh Mas Sri Pertamiari

(70)

$74 Wholesale

$74

Natural Unity, Hand-Carved Sese Wood Wall Art Featuring Wildlife from Ghana

Evelyn Kafui Ahianyo

(31)

$109 Wholesale

$109

Bamboo Thicket, Wood relief panel

Ketut Sandi

(33)

$149 Wholesale

$149

Bamboo Copse, Hand-Carved Suar Wood Relief Panel of Bamboo from Bali

Seji Taram

(313)

$39 Wholesale

$39

Monkey, Multicolored Modern Stretched Sublimation Print of A Monkey

Ferlander Arguedas

$117 Wholesale

$117

Aklowa by Day, Batik Cotton Wall Hanging with Village Scene

K. Baka

(27)

$107 Wholesale

$107

Bird Realm, Bird-Themed Painted Hand-Carved Sese Wood Wall Art

Winnie Mandela Koranteng

$107 Wholesale

$107

Sunshine Tree, Handcrafted Circular Wood Tree Relief Panel from Bali

Eka

(659)

$89 Wholesale

$89

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

Leaf and Tree Wall Decor

Related Categories

Unique Finds

The Village Council

Made Mulyani Hand-carved wood masks and panels

The Summer Catalog