How to Appraise Tapestries & Textiles

Many of the pieces in this category - provided they have been stored safely for years – will have unique histories and show an immense level of skill and handiwork that can be appreciated by keen collectors. Beyond decorative textiles such as religious tapestries and tablecloths, antique clothing fetches high prices on the art market. If pieces are kept in good condition, they can do very well at auction and provide extremely interesting pieces of social history.

Follow these easy steps to appraise your tapestry and textiles.

How To Identify and Appraise Antique Tapestry

There are a couple of details that can help you to identify and appraise antique tapestry. Below are five examples.

1. The Threads That Are Used
If the tapestry is made in modern times, you’ll much probably notice that the threads are polyester or nylon. If, however, it’s an antique tapestry, made in the 18th, 17th, 16th or even 15th century, then the threads are either wool, linen, or cotton.

2. Uneven and Unique Stitching
Even the greatest and the most skilfully made tapestry isn’t perfect. Why? Because it’s made by a human. A machine may complete ten thousand perfectly made stitches, but a human can’t. By examining closely, you can tell that the hand-made stitching is somewhat uneven, and hence unique.

3. The Colors
In the old days, the access to colors was very limited. All dyes were created by natural material, and sometimes you notice that it’s not the perfect choice of colors. Today, however, you have all the colors in the world to choose from.

4. The Story in the Design
The story being told in the design is key regarding antique tapestry. You can often tell the time period of when the tapestry was made by looking at the story. Notable, even modern tapestry could tell a story which would indicate that the tapestry is from i.g. the 17th, so it’s important to look for other features too.

5. The Location of the Signature
Nowadays, an artist’s signature is often tagged on the back, whilst with antique tapestry, the signatures were often incorporated in the bottom corner of the tapestry.

How To Determine The Value of Tapestry & Textiles

As stated above, there are some essential factors that you need to look at. However, the best way to get an accurate value for tapestry and textiles is to seek expert guidance. That's something we at Value My Stuff are more than happy to help out with. Follow these simple steps to appraise tapestry and textiles today.

The Value of Famous Tapestry

– "The Lady and the Unicorn" (French: La Dame à la licorne) is a series of six mille-fleurs ("thousand flowers") tapestries that are woven in Flanders from wool and silk. The tapestries are from the late 15th century and are on display in Paris at Musée de Cluny. One tapestry from the series sold for around 40 million dollars in 2013.

– "The Hunt of the Unicorn" (French: La Chasse à la licorne) is a series of seven tapestries from the late 15th century, made in the Netherlands. Woven in silk, wool, and metallic threads, the tapestries are in eye-popping colors which were produced from dye plants, such as woad, madder, and weld. The tapestries are much probably designed in Paris, and are today on display in New York at The Cloisters. They are worth several million dollars per tapestry, the exact prices vary depending on the condition.

– "The Apocalypse Tapestry" is an oversized medieval set of colorful tapestries that are woven during the 12th century in Paris, and tells the story of the apocalypse from Saint John the Divine's Book of Revelation. The complete set of a total of 90 scenes is displayed in Angers at Musée de la Tapisserie, which is located at the beautiful Château d'Angers. The entire set is valued at around 25 million dollars.

– "The Devonshire Hunting Tapestries" is a set of four Flemish tapestries made in Arras (Artois), France, during mid 15th century. The tapestries are over three metres wide, making them very oversized and something that was made for large, spacious homes. They are displayed in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and were previously owned by the Duke of Devonshire. The tapestries are worth several million dollars for the set, the exact prices vary depending on the condition.

– "The Raphael Cartoons" is originally a set of ten large cartoons for tapestries; however, only seven survived. Commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace, the design was made by the great Raphael in the 16th century. Notably, the original tapestries are lost, hence the value lies in the designs themselves, which are estimated to be worth several millions of dollars. Since 1865, the cartoons have been on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London from the British Royal Collection.

How To Get Tapestry & Textiles Appraised

Only a professional will be able to provide you with a sure and particular range of value and an up-to-date price for your tapestry & textiles by using their experience and expertise to eliminate as much chance for misstep and error as possible. Luckily here at Value My Stuff, there are experts in the field who can provide professional appraisal and valuation services so that you can take the necessary steps to discover how much your tapestry and textiles are worth today! Start Your Tapestry & Textiles Appraisal Here!