Bayeaux rugs: a beautiful history in the making

My high school history teacher was determined that there was one date none of us would ever forget. She drilled us over and over on 1066 the Battle of Hastings until she could snap out “1066!” in any setting, and the entire class would immediately shout back, "Battle of Hastings".

Despite the fact that all these years later, I still automatically link
the date and the name, it wasn't until I saw the Bayeaux tapestry that I truly understood the significance of that battle. The Bayeaux tapestry (sometimes spelled Bayeaux) is an embroidered depiction of the all the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the battle itself.

Believed to have been created by women at a guild hall in Bayeaux, the
tapestry is over 230 feet long but only 20 inches high. It contains hundreds of scenes of the war and the Norman invasion, embroidered in open couching stitches and padded outline stitches. The thread used is colorful wool, and the style has led to the assumption that it was created by Englishmen despite the fact that it presents the Norman side of the conflict.

There are also several theories of its origin and commissioning. While
it is sometimes thought that it was the wife of William the Conqueror
who commissioned the work depicting her husband's victory, it was far
more likely that the Bayeaux tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo of
Bayeaux to be displayed in the cathedral at Bayeaux. There is mention of it in writings as early as 1476, in a description of the Cathedral at Bayeaux that referred to an embroidered 'white cloth' that encircled the cathedral nave. In 1792, the tapestry was rescued from destruction by Lambert Leforestier, who stopped farmers from cutting it up to use as wagon covers. Shortly after, the city council of Bayeaux designated a fine arts council to preserve the artistic treasures of the city. In 1842, the tapestry was restored and displayed under glass in Bayeaux. The tapestry has been removed and restored a number of times during wars and conflicts to preserve it. It currently is on display in Bayeaux, though it has been stored at the Louvre, in the possession of Napoleon, and hidden by various townspeople during the Nazi occupation.

While it has inspired many tapestries and rugs, the Bayeaux tapestry is
actually not a tapestry at all, but a work of embroidery, Tradition has
given it its name, and now any tapestry or wall hanging that is created
in the style of the Bayeaux tapestry is referred to by that name.
Bayeaux tapestries typically are scenes taken directly from the original work and framed with hand-embroidered accents. Bayeaux rugs are created on looms, and then removed for hand-finishing. The background is light - either ivory or cream color as the background of the Bayeuax tapestry, and the figures are brightly colored. Tapestries and rugs created in the Bayeaux style are most often used as wall-hangings.

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