Collection: Gobelin tapestry

The history of Gobelin weaving dates back to the gorgeous art of tapestry weaving (usually called "tapicherie" in French) that originated in ancient Western Asia and Egypt. In the 13th and 14th centuries in Europe, it developed as a decoration for rooms in castles, cathedrals, and mansions. Eventually, through the Renaissance and Baroque eras, it became one of the most creative fields in European industrial arts. The etymology of Gobelin weaving comes from the workshop of brothers Gilles and Jean of the Gobelin family, which became popular in France around the 15th century. Later, in the 17th century, King Louis XIV of France nationalized and protected this workshop, and eventually tapestry itself came to be called Gobelin weaving. The oldest Gobelin weaving in Japan is the 16th century Belgian tapestry used in the farewell curtain of the Keihoko float at the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Hououyama farewell curtain in Nagahama, Shiga, both of which are designated as important cultural properties by the national government.