The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-11-09
TAPESTRY WEAVING.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT A
FRENCH INDUSTRY.
How the Gobciius Products Are
Madc-Uo bcbrated Paintings Re
produced IN the Tapestries
rriyatc NIanuiacturers
L INTEREST in the antinne industry

of the United States, and is only
another evidence OF the development Of
the American taste for high art. In re-
sponse TO inquiries from persons inter.
estcd in this fascinating subject, the
State Department some time since re-
quested United States Consul. General
Adam +. King, Of Paris, to gather such
information MS was accessible concerning
the manufacture Of tapestries in France,
asking notably about the Gobelius, an
establishment in Paris belonging to the
French Government, and devoted to the
production OF tapestries and carpets.
The Gobelins are the largest and most
important manufacturers not only in
France, but in the entire world. Their
place is situated in Avenue dies Gobclinc,
and dates its establishment from the
early part OF the fifteenth ten Jury, when
two brothers, Jehan and GILES Gobelin,
discovered an improvement in scarlet
dye which soon rose into great repute.
After more than iiitv years the plant was
bought in 1862 by Louis XIV.
The National manufactory of TIE Gobe.
lins is now divided into three distinct
seclions-the dye shops, tapestry shops
and carpet work shops. The dye shops,
or works, produce not only every kind
of color, but twenty to thirty different
shades OF each. While many OF the
hanglngs worked fifty years ago arc
already faded, the factory is now able to
produce any color perfectly fast. This
great success is due TO the labors OF the
eminent chemist, Chevreuil, who was
employed by the Government to instruc.
the Gobelins dyers. Large rooms are
devoted to the high warps. upon which
the tapestries are suspended as the work
goes on, and some idea Of the exquisite
nature aud delicate character of the
work msy be gained from the fact that
an artist cannot produce in one year more
than one-fourth of square yard.
The method OF manufacturing tapes.
tries is as follows: The design is first
painted in oil colors OF the tapestry to
be manufactured, after which second
one, but OF natural size, is painted, per-
mitting to distinguish, besides the exact
size, the colors and gradations of the
future tapestry. The design is then
traced ON the back OF the warp with
pencils. The colors, or wefts, are then
dyed, prepared and assorted, and are
wound separately on spouln made of
lockwood, aud shaped like a canoe
mans paddle, that has blade at both
ends.
The warp hangs from horizontal
cylinder, and as every yard Is completed
IT is wound upon another cylinder in the
lower part of the frame. The artist
stands behind the tapestry, aud with his
worsteds and silks at hand, begins to
work IN the different colors over tue
ground marked with the tracings OF the
colors entering into a tapestry nee .ssar'ly
influences the quality, as upon the same
warp fifty different patterns may be
manufactured, according to the number
of co!ors employed. The subjects that
the tapestries represent also influence
their value, ordinary shaded green land
scapes, for example, costing much less
than portraits requiring variety OF
colors.
The vertical threads OF the warp are
divided by little tool called hedole,
which keeps half of them in advance OF
the rest, but those behind can be brought
forward whenever required by means of
small cords, one of which is attached to
each warp thread. The left hand is in-
troduced between the two sets OF thread,
taking up as many as need he, and
through these the needle is passed from
lett to right. The thread wheu stretched
is piled with the pointed needle, and is
then passed back in the contrary direc-
tion through the space opened by shift.
ing the position OF the front and back
threads; By ingeniously combining the
woofs, the colors are made to blend per.
iectly, and effects are obtained like those
OF paintings.
The characteristics Of the Gobelins
tapestries are especially large historical
scenes, reproductions from celebrated
paintings, etc. The Gobelins carpet de.
partment weaves velvet carpets, in which
historical and NEUROLOGICAL subjects are
reproduced. These carpets are manufac-
tured in the same way as velvets, that is,
the weits, alter having been woven into
warps, are sheared upon the face of the
tissue facing the artist by measurement to
given length, to give more or less thick.
ness to the velvet effects. The warps are
disposed in the same manner as for the
manufacture of tapestries, but the artists
work with the face OF the tissues facing
them, while, as previously show 1t is
the reverse in the manulac' .ng of
tapestries. The carpets are Il harkable
Tor smoothness, evenness of texture, their
strength and fneness exceeding even the
Persian in this respect. Some of them
require from five to ten years for their
completion, and cost Sl2, 900 to $50. 600.
All these carpets made during the reign
Of Napoleon III. were used for the decor
ations Of the imperial palace. The largest
ever made was manufactured for the
gallery OF the Louvre. 1t consists OF
seventy-two pieces, the total length being
more than 1900 feet.
In the city of AublIsson there ara nri