The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-31

has been producing tapestries for .cen- turies.
 France is to make the presentation :. as acknowledgment of the service rem -dered in the great war, and as an ac- knowledgment of the compliment paid M. Jacques Grebber, noted French architect, who was commissioned to design plans for the construction of the Parkway in Philadelphia.
 Six selected weavers of the ancient Gobelin factory have been engaged for more than three years in the work, following an original design prepared by M. Jaulnes, French artist. Art connoisseurs have estimated the value of the tapestry at S5O,O0O.
 The Story shown on the tapestry is that of the stirring scenes that accom- panied the departure of Philadelphia 8 sons to France. Artillery, cavalry and e infantry, with flags and banners fly ing, the caissons drawn by spirited horses, are pictured marching past h. dependence hall.
 Thus the famous Gobelin factory brings down to the present day great events that have taken place in it's centuries of existence.
 G0belin Dyer
 Jean Gobelin, after whom the great factory was named, was not himself tapestry maker, but a dyer. The men who first made Gobelin tapestry were Flemish weavers brought from Flanders by Henry III of France, says the Kansas City Star. These men were sent to work in 1901 in house belonging to the Gobelin family, close to the already celebrated dye works j; but it was not until 1862 that Colbert gathered the various tapestry weavers together and definitely established the Gobelin factory.
 Later Louis XIV was a. moving spirit behind the enterprise. His court patronized the factory literally, and the king in turn was frequently de- picted by the artists. The famous portrait of the king by Rigaud. the original of which is in the Louvre, was transferred to tapestry, and is today one of the outstanding examples of the marvellous work done by the weav- CTS of that time.
 The famous Charles Le Brun was the first director of the factroy after 1t had been taken over to serve the royal court, and it was he who de- ciShcu lhC odbtlcS Ol <hlcAduucIB tuc Twelve Months of the Year. and other famous pieces of early Gobelin tapestry. Even at that early date Gobelin tapestries derived their char acteristic quality from the skill used in dyeing the materials that were woven into them. The factory still has its own chemical laboratory and dye works. Much of the fine tapes try made elsewhere has deteriorated through fading or change in its tints, but the products of the Gobelin fac tory have stood the test of centuries.
 The Hapsburg Collections
 A notable collection of Gobelins was included among the 950 pieces of tap estry which, after the war, were found piled away in the storerooms, of Schoenbrunn castle, the summer resi- dence of the Hapsburg emperors Scrub-women. preparing the royal quarters to be used as government of fices of the republic, were seeking per mission to take this generous supply of 'dry goods" home to be used for bedding and for making clothing. Off, ficials investigated and decided that the tapestries would serve more i'm portant usefulness as security in ne gotiating American loans with which to buy flour for the hungry people of the new republic.
 The making of tapestry is almost as old as the art of weaving. No soon- CT does the craftsman invent proc ess of making a commodity for the needs of man than the artist sees in it possibilities for establishment with esthetic qualities.