Wall Tapestries And Wall Hangings For Your Home

Tree Of Life Tapestry

The Tree of Life wall tapestry is one of the most popular tapestries and wall hangings.

When first woven by William Morris, the design of the Tree of Life which existed as a Celtic version, transformed into a version that had features which William Morris possessed in his other works from the Victorian era.

This tapestry is popular not only because of its beauty, but because of its powerful and sometimes evocative symbolism.

In the traditional interpretation of the 19th century wall hanging by Morris, the Tree of Life tapestry symbolizes the tree in the Garden of Eden bearing the forbidden fruit.

But what does this really mean?

The tree represents knowledge and the bounty that this knowledge brings. But the tree also represents knowledge that in one interpretation is meant for only the deities and thus was not meant for humans. So the story of Adam and Eve eating from the fruit was that of them being banished from the Garden of Eden. The tree in this context represented everlasting life, which has several interpretations including all knowing knowledge, or the conquering of the laws of life and death by the attainment of immortality either physical or spiritual, which implies the ongoing existence of souls in the after life and even reincarnation in future lifetimes.

So this tapestry has a multitude of possible meanings and nuances which can be made to fit the interpreter.

In the Celtic context however, the Tree of Life tapestry is used to symbolise the connection between heaven and earth. The tree reaches into heaven and the roots of the tree go deep into the earth. As such, the connection between the various realms of life are made. The Celts believed in the life force which permeates all living things including the sacred Tree of Life, and that this tree could be a conduit from which messages from their deity can be transmitted.

So whichever way you see it, this tapestry has a multilayered meaning. This tapestry, inspired by Morris & Co depicts flowers and foliage, and renders the foliage in a striking display of form and color, There is, as in many Morris tapestries, a sense of movement as the acanthus shaped leaves seem to move as they interact with each other.

The blues and greens as well as the yellows, apricots and oranges in this piece makes this piece a symbol of joy and abundance, and a celebration of Spring and nature in its own right, in addition to the heavier and more complex meanings of the Tree of Life.

Decor and art which marries home and garden such as a scene of nature and this symbolic tree brings a sense of nature into the home.

Get the Tree of Life Tapestry here and enhance your home with a work inspired by William Morris.