A wall hanging is a textile made or used to decorate a wall, including tapestries, embroidered panels, woven rugs, printed cottons and appliqued or quilted pieces. Wall hangings served practical as well as decorative purposes, adding colour and pattern while reducing draughts and softening the hard surfaces of stone and panelled rooms.
In medieval and Tudor houses woven tapestries and painted cloths were among the most valuable furnishings, moved between residences with their owners. Later centuries brought crewelwork bed and wall hangings, Indian painted cottons, silk damasks and, in the nineteenth century, Arts and Crafts embroideries and woven panels by designers associated with William Morris. Kilims, suzanis and other woven textiles from Turkey, Persia and Central Asia are also widely hung today. Condition is critical when buying: fading, splitting, moth damage, old repairs and stains all reduce value, and colours should be checked on both sides. Hangings should be supported along their full width, usually by a sleeve stitched to a lining or by a Velcro batten, rather than being nailed or pinned, and kept out of direct sunlight to preserve the dyes.
