Using Tapestries for that Medieval Look

The Wikipedia defines tapestries as textile art, but when I was young we always thought of  them as wall rugs, mind you we would NEVER use them as floor rugs.

Being easy to roll up and transport, they were popular for a number of reasons……in churches, they were brought out on special occasions, and in the winter, the tapestries would help insulate a castle wall and at the same time giving an added bonus for the eyes.

Tapestry decoration is not something new to our age, using tapestries and actually making them,  took place during the middle ages and it was only the rich and famous who could afford to decorate in this fashion but now, reproductions are available and much more affordable. The Gothic form of medieval tapestry has always been popular, with religious themes, mythical creatures, spectacular landscapes and flowers being the focus of the prints.  Victorian imagery has also been a part of the gothic style and is a lovely fit to a home.

Many tapestries depict actual events and incidents that occurred during that time period and are extremely helpful as they provide authentic and in some cases rare information about a time that no longer exists.  Many depict the original designs of the buildings that may no longer exist.

It has been said that The Cluny Museum in Paris holds many original pieces of medieval wall tapestries. Most of today’s reproductions have come from those original great masterpieces. Two very popular forms of tapestries is the Lady and the Unicorn series displaying myth and legend, and the other is the Bayeux tapestry depicting scenes of the famous Battle of Hastings.  You would be able to bring in an element of amazing historical charm into your home by hanging a beautifully crafted reproduction wall hanging. Also if you know anything related to paintings and art, German and Roman art can contribute to the décor.

One of the best things about medieval tapestries is that they never go out of style. For the last 500 years they have hung in  some of the most beautiful homes, estates and palaces in the world.   They can surely give your home a look that is fit for royalty

Did you know that Gargoyles are YOUR friends??

Have you heard the latest?  I hear that Gargoyles are starting to get hotter than those Cherub statues!!  They are the hot new decorating trend and it looks like this style won’t be stopping anytime in the near future.

These sometimes fierce-looking creatures are starting to raise their heads and wings in homes and gardens everywhere.  If you’re looking for vintage gargoyles or modern-day look a likes, your dedicated search can bring an atmosphere of history to your homestead.

Superstition says, they can frighten evil spirits away and we already know evil spirits do exist, so then it makes sense that gargoyles are our friends.

Gargoyles are usually stone carvings atop buildings, and often represent monsters or supernatural creatures. They have taken a hold in the popular subconscious and are often viewed as symbols of Gothic romanticism. The real reason why gargoyles were used was as a downspouts to channel water away from the walls of the buildings.

Technically speaking, gargoyles who have rain spouts built into their design are chimeras, not gargoyles. If your Gargoyle doesn’t have a  rain spout built into him, then he is indeed a gargoyle.  They are typically associated with medieval Europe, and their roots stretch back much further.

What is their story anyways?

In Egypt and Greece they are not called gargoyles but were used in Ancient Egyptian and Greek temples. Water from rituals would be dumped on the roofs and passed through their mouths.

In India Gargoyles in India date back to the mid-12th century, where they appeared in Airavateswarar Temple in Darasuram.
For Protection according to legend, the bishop of Rouen (in Normandy) saved the countryside from a living gargoyle in the 7th century AD with the help of a condemned prisoner. Because its form was thought to be so frightening, it was subsequently added to church designs to scare off evil spirits.

Gargoyles appeared on many medieval cathedrals, but the most famous was Notre Dame in Paris. Its renowned Galerie des Chimeres added a number of gargoyles and chimeras during its restoration in the mid-19th century.

Today many contemporary building designs incorporate gargoyles. Some notable examples include the steel gargoyles on the Chrysler Building in New York and the gargoyles at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Hmmm, now where should they go???

You could put them on your fence posts outside.  If your fence has more than four pillars, you could add one gargoyle to each pillar, or you can skip every second pillar, or you can just put them on the four corners.

You can put one on a pillar on each side of your driveway.  They can greet you as you drive in.  If your porch or gallery steps are wide, you can add them to the bottom steps.  You can add them in your garden or in your yard.  By putting them on big stones or tree stumps.

Inside the home you can put them on either side of your fireplace mantle, or use them as bookends to a shelf.  You can put them on a shelf in different places in your home.

The Griffin, or sometimes spelled Gryphon (for this website, we will be using the spelling of Gryphon), is a powerful beast that has been depicted in literature for centuries, the Gryphon is not a creature you’d want to make mad. It is a figure of Greek mythology.

The Gryphon is a mythical creature that has the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. The lion is traditionally considered the king of the beasts and the eagle is the king of the birds, and the Gryphon is thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature.  Sometimes it is shown  as having a long snake for a tail. Most of the time, only the female has wings and males have spikes on their backs instead of wings.

The Gryphon is said to be native to India, although nobody knows for sure exactly where it came from. Legend says that these winged creatures would find gold in the mountains and built their nests from it.  This would lure hunters to their nests and the Gryphons would be ferocious in their attacks on the hunters.  Thus Gryphons were known for guarding treasure and they were a symbol of divine power and a guardian of the divine.

Gryphons are viewed as  heroic symbols. They are well known for their speed, ability to fly and having eyes like an eagle, as well as the strength and courage of a lion. In hieroglyphics, Gryphons represent heat and summer. In Assyria (an ancient empire of western Asia,) both the Gryphon and the dragon were symbols of wisdom. In Roman art, you will see that Gryphons are often pulling the chariot of Nemesis who was the goddess of justice and revenge.

Did you know that the proper spelling is Griffin.  The spelling of Gryphon is more magical and mystical.  Did you know that Hippogriffs, like the one in the Harry Potter stories, are said to be the offspring of a Griffin and a horse – even though Griffins are traditionally supposed to hate horses.

Gryphons are sculpted on churches and are portrayed in many family crests.  Today you can see Gryphons perched on the roof top of the Philidelphia museum of art.  Many schools have Gryphons as their mascot.  Gryphon statues mark the entrance to the city of London in England.

In legend, a griffin’s claw was believed to have medicinal properties and one of its feathers could restore sight to the blind.  In medieval times, goblets fashioned from griffin claws (actually antelope horns) and griffin eggs (actually ostrich eggs) were highly prized in medieval European courts

In Greek mythology the griffins were always at war against a race of one-eyed humans called Arimaspians who were constantly trying to steal their gold.

Gosh I really love Gryphons….and Gargoyles,   I  just can’t choose between the two!

Medieval decorating for the home is gaining a lot in popularity.  People are becoming more open to new themes and ideas.  There are a number of brick and mortar stores and online websites that are dedicating themselves to objects related to medieval home decorating.

Statues are one item that is seeing a surge in popularity.  Statues are not only for the yard, they can even be used for the home.   Adding a statue to your homes is one way that you can make your home more exquisite and beautiful.

Selecting the right statue for your home is the first step and should be well thought out and planned.  Remember you will most likely be keeping these statues a very long time, so choose wisely.Take time and look at the room where you want to add a statue.  What are the colors, is the room more feminine or masculine?  If the room is in light colored tones, putting a black statue of a Greek god won’t appeal to the eye.  The statue will really stick out.

When you have decided where to put a statue, you need to measure the space and take in consideration where the wall and the furniture is place.  If need be, write down your observations on paper and bring a measuring tape with you when you go to the store to shop.  This will save you time ,effort and risk.  You don’t want to buy a piece and bring it home and then realize it doesn’t quite fit in.

You also need to think about what kind of statue you want.  If you have children who are active or pets or both children and pets, a floor statue can easily get knocked over.  The children and animals could get hurt and the statue can get broken.  You want peace of mind and spirit with children, animals and statues all getting along under the same roof.
Choose a statue that has meaning for you.  If you are going to be seeing it or passing by it day in and day out, you want a statue that invokes a pleasant feeling in you or makes a pleasant impression in the atmosphere.  The themes you choose for your statues will be a reflection of you and your personality.

If you like to be considerate of others, keep in mind that some statues may be offensive to others.  If you really like that statue that is sexually suggestive, think of maybe putting it in your bedroom.

How does Harry Potter fit into the Medieval decorating scheme?

Oh I just can’t resist including Harry Potter here.   Ok, you’re probably thinking what does Harry Potter have to do with Gothic, he’s all about magic.   There is nothing more that conjures up medieval or gothic more than Harry Potter.  When you watch the films or read the books, you actually feel like you’re there.  The decoration is dark and drab, yes, but YOU  don’t need to decorate that way in your home.

If you need ideas on how to decorate your home, or you’re just exploring what gothic or medieval is all about, I think that Harry Potter may be one of the best ways to see.  Take the Hogwarts Castle, the high ceilings and beams, torches on the wall, colors of the walls, the shape of the windows, the pictures that serve as doors to the rooms.  Ok yes you may say that the lighting is dark and drab, but remember that Harry Potter is a movie, YOUR home can have tons of gothic / medieval and victorian elements and still be airy and light.  I believe that airy and light plus gothic can go together.  Let loose your imagination…..

Competition on eBay is quite something. Everyone wants to sell their items. Sometimes it’s not easy for the seller to keep their income level or increase their income level.

So what can a seller do to have more eyes looking at their listings? Why they should auction bump their auctions!!

What is auction bumping, where do I go to do this and how does it work? you’re asking………

Auction bumping is a free program eBay sellers use.  There is no downloads and it’s quick as a blink of an eye.

Decorating The Medieval  Victorian Way is just the website you need. Looking under the categories link, you will see Auction Bump~~FREE.  Thasi is where it all starts.

There are two versions of the auction bump.  There is the original auction bump where you need to add your photo, add your title and add the item number that you get from your eBay listing.  There are many places offering the older version.  Do not bypass these sites, you will be missing out on many views and potential customers.

The next generation of auction bumps is called the speedy bump because it is very speedy. With just ONE click of your mouse, you can add your item.  In a matter of seconds you are done.   Everything shows up, the picture, the price, the end date.  People can click to buy it now, or they can click on watch or they can visit your item.

You should take the time and read the requirements…some allow only 3 or 4 postings and then you have to wait until your item is bumped off the grid before adding more. Some allow you to add 3 or 4 items per day. But you should always pay attention to what you are listing…there is no sense in listing the same item 3 times in a row.

It is extremely easy to use and my sales have been greatly helped, and the best part? it’s free. As an eBay seller you have absolutely nothing to lose and much to gain in terms of traffic and money. This is also another way to have repeat customers. You will see more bids and more sales.

Always keep in mind…family friendly, these sites are NOT places for pornography or violence such as guns.  Please list your items wisely.

This is just another way to drive traffic your way and it’s all free.   So come do the “bump” and have fun.

Unique medieval décor is immensely popular if you want to give a historical feel to your home. I am totally intrigued with the décor of the middle ages and if you’re like me, why not bring some of that “goth” into your life and home?

 
Whether your home is a house, an apartment, a trailer or other, you can still make your space comfortable, even if it is temporary. Here are some ideas to bring in the “goth” Remember you don’t need tons of money to transform your space, just a creative mind and an eye for what feels right to you.

Hang tapestries on the wall, use floor length curtains, hand chains over the curtains, use wrought iron curtain rods, install floor to ceiling book shelves, use wrought iron plant stands, wooden furniture with or without iron accents, wall papers, faux finishes, wainscotting, , cushions for chairs, fabrics on chairs, wrought iron items with pointed arches and curled ends.

Flooring that resembles stone, area rugs, , install stained glass or decorate your windows with the stain glass look, use dragon or gargoyle book ends, candle stick holders, paper weights, chandeliers, sconces, sword and shield on the wall, knights in armor by the door.
Take any of these ideas and play with them, molding them to your liking and your taste. Let loose your imagination and have fun fun fun!!!!