What is gobelin or trellis techniques?

It is one of the forms of decorative- applied art. By gobelin is understood the wall pileless carpet with the topical or ornament composition, woven by hand cross interlacing of threads. Gobelins are weaved from the colored silk or from woolen threads by the individual parts, which then are sewn between themselves (frequently the separate color spots).

When the first trellis appeared - it is accurately unknown. In Europe the first trellises in the 12-13th centuries in Germany. Frescos decorated the walls on the South part of Europe and on the North of Europe trellis were invented not only for decoration of the walls of cathedrals, and then locks and palaces, but also they made it possible to preserve heat and to be protected from the drafts. The first European trellises were woven in Germany and later the production was extended to France and Flandriya.

The word “gobelin” arose in France in the 17th Century, when the royal textiles of the Gobelins’ brothers (dye house for the fur), was opened, later to this institution they added carpet weaving (as in Flandriya at that period). The word “gobelin” began to be used in terms of the textiles that were produced. The gobelins earlier were known as trellises, later people referred to “arrasti” – bright trellises of golden and silver threads, “verduras” - trellises depicting the images of animals, birds in of the of natural of environment. In the 20th century “the panels”, “tapissery” (tapestry) names of this art appeared among people.

In the essence gobelin is the same as trellis, but initially gobelins were referred only to those carpets, which were created in France on the royal textiles of the Gobelin brothers. Royal lily (the symbol or royal textiles) woven on the angles or in the center at the upper edge served as the distinguishing mark of such carpets.

Trellises are woven by hand. On the machine tool stretches the threads (usually flax). Then the basis threads are interwoven by colored woolen or silk threads, covering the basis threads. Usually trellises are woven in parts, which then are sewn between themselves (frequently the separate color spots). Furthermore, since the process of creating the trellis is labor-consuming and requires time, one carpet is usually carried out by several masters.

The technology of the creation of trellises in the different time was different. Trellis is made on the high or low machine tool. The difference between these tools consists in the essence of the basis threads arrangement, horizontal - on the low machine tool and vertical - on the high. Although the work technique depends on the above mentioned machine tools, in both cases the design and color passages are identical. The threads of different color are interwoven and this creates the sensation of a gradual change in the tone or relief. Weaver passes the thread through the basis, creating simultaneously image and the cloth itself. The images on the trellis were copied from the sketches drawn on cardboard. The cardboard is some sort of a model of trellis in full size. It is possible to create several trellises from one cardboard sketch, but each time they would be different from each other.

The contemporary technique of weaving makes it possible to step back from the old traditions. Thus, a thicker cotton thread can be used for the basis, it is possible to weave by any material depending on the artists preferences. In the classical gobelin the fur is used, but it is possible to use other threads and fibers.



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