Irish Renaissance

Irish Renaissance

Tapestries - The Perfect Gift For a Lady

When it comes to gifts of love, some will insist on diamonds. Your florist would prefer you send her flowers. Hallmark wants you to give her a singing card. All those gifts are fine, but maybe you should think outside the jewelry box, push the scented envelope and pass on the perennial baby's breath. What could be a more thoughtful gift than something she can look at every day? Diamonds might be a girl's best friend, but a tapestry will warm her to her toes.

She will be surprised, of course. She may be confused by your uncharacteristic good taste; but she'll fall in love with a carefully chosen gift of tapestry. Few similar presents offer the advantage of adding lasting beauty to your home while making a very personal statement. If the theme you choose isn't too intimate, her tapestry can hang where her friends will see it. They'll be impressed and intrigued, and she'll be warmed by their reaction to your unusual gift from the heart.

Tapestries make thoughtful gifts

An expensive greeting card may make her smile for a few minutes. Flowers are lovely, but they fade quickly. What about diamonds? Let's assume she already has the one that truly matters, and perhaps a pair of earrings or a pendant. After that, giving diamond jewelry actually says, 'This is the only gift I can think of.' Flowers are too often associated with 'Whoops - I did something wrong!'

Women love men who find creative ways to express their love, so be that man. To choose a tapestry for her, you will want to consider her sense of design and theme. Making this extra effort will show her that you are capable of insight, and that you are willing to take risks to please her. In addition, she'll know you did more than just phone in an order!

There's nothing quite like a quality piece of wall art. We're not talking about buying her gaudy flea market wall hangings. Real tapestries offer deep, rich colors and an inspiring variety of romantic themes. When you make a choice that reflects what's in her heart, your gift will be timeless. This is your chance to show her that you know who she is!

Fruits and flowers

Is she a devoted gardener? Tapestries featuring flowers and fruit have been popular for centuries. Tapestry artists love the broad palette of colors that appear in plants. Examples from India show a preference for lush fruit in bright hues, accented by leaves and greenery. These set a colorful table in red, yellow, violet, and orange. Hang hers in the dining room to complement any meal.

Turkish tapestries, on the other hand, tend toward profusions of flowers. Floral designs may focus on one or two distinct colors, with splashes of white. You'll want to be sure of your selection in this case. Use cues from accent colors she has already used. Both fruit and floral presentations reflect well in mirrors, and will brighten the dreariest room.

Landscapes and nature

If she loves long scenic drives consider a landscape hanging. The British Isles offer an appealing variety of nature scenes. English Cottage designs, filled with trees and shrubs and vine covered stone walls, make a good choice for a country girl. These are heavy on earth tones with a lot of blue for water and sky.

In contrast, a stark Scottish highland or misty Irish seacoast can include subtle hues of gray, azure, and emerald. Maybe she'd like one with a distant crumbling castle. Tapestries of this type suggest a sophisticated world view. They show well in formal areas, and make wonderful conversation-starters.

Unicorns, romance and love

For the mystical and adventurous woman, look for Medieval tapestry themes. Dragons and unicorns have been favorites of weavers through the ages. Unicorns are interpreted as symbols of love's purity. One famous six-piece set, The Lady and the Unicorn, has intrigued admirers all over the world. Expect a mixture of white, gold and silver, and other cool-temperature tints.

For intimate settings you can choose romantic Renaissance tapestries. The bedroom is the perfect place to display scenes of beautiful women or angelic visions. Renaissance artists from France, Italy and Belgium portrayed passionate settings like weddings and trysts in meticulous detail. Angels can remind her that she fits that description in your eyes.

Your own angel will be thrilled by your creativity! When you give your sweetheart a present with as much thought behind it as a beautiful work of art, she'll be amazed. All it takes is a little perception and a healthy imagination to see where such a gift might bring new spice to the relationship!

About the Author

Angela Dawson-Field writes extensively on home decor and
tapestry & textile art
. She divides her time between family and
The Tapestry House

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