The Quest for the Unicorn Tapestry

This tapestry is inspired from an original by Wm Morris (1836-1896), the famous British artist and designer. The theme is the Quest for the Unicorn by the twenty-four Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. Many tales have surrounded this ancient English King, but the real Arthur seems to have lived in the 5th or 6th century, and to have gained fame as a leader of his people after the Romans; who, having ruled Britain for three centuries, had abandoned it to the rising power of the barbarians. He is supposed to have maintained his court at Camelot in Cornwall. He carried on war successfully against the heathen Saxon invaders, but was finally defeated. The conquered Britons who fled to the mountains of Wales and to Brittany in France, began to tell stories of Arthurs valour and goodness, and around his name there began to be a cluster of tales in which many other knights appeared. These knights were said to be members of King Arthurs Order of the Round Table, and around this table all the knights sat as equals. The tapestry represents the Quest for the Unicorn, the Knights of the Round Table having been bidden to seek this mythical beast of the Middle Ages. The scroll reads as follows: These are the arms of certain knights of the round table bidden to Seek the Unicorn on the quest whatever might befall William Morris was born in London on 24th March 1836. He was educated at Marlborough, and then at Exeter College, Oxford, where he met his life-long friend Edward Burne-Jones. Both Morris and Burne-Jones developed a passion for the beauty of the Middle Ages. Later, Morris and his colleagues founded the firm of Morris & Company at Merton Abbey in Surrey, making beautifully-designed tapestries, curtains, rugs and wallpapers. The original tapestry was commissioned for Stanmore Hall and was woven around 1890 in wool and silk on a cotton warp.

This beautiful tapestry is woven on a jacquard loom by skilled weavers, keeping alive the centuries old tradition of tapestry manufacturing from generation to generation. This tapestry is fully lined incorporating a rod pocket on the back for hanging with an exclusive Heirloom flush-to-wall hanging rod. Alternatively, this tapestry can be hung with a decorative pole of your choice.