A NEW BOOK capturing the history and craft behind a medieval artefact in Coventry was launched at St Mary’s Guildhall.
The Guildhall celebrated the release of The St Mary’s Hall Coventry Tapestry: Weaving the Threads Together on September 26.
Edited by Mark Webb, the book sheds light on the early sixteenth-century tapestry which is over 500 years old and is thought to be the oldest tapestry still in its original place in Britain.
The book compiles the results from a 2019 conference and additional findings around its iconography including King Henry VI and Queen Margaet of Anjou, as well as insights into the venue’s architecture and early 16th Century city life.
Mark said: “This unique wool and silk Flemish tapestry has been long been known to historians but nothing new has been added to our understanding for the past 100 years.
“Thanks to the 2019 conference and subsequent scientific and documentary research, we can now say that it is one of the most significant Renaissance tapestries in Europe.”
Abi Moore, heritage and venue manager at St Mary’s Guildhall said: “We are incredibly excited about this book as it takes an in-depth look at one of the most historically significant artefacts anywhere in the city.
“The publication of this work will help shine a light on the Coventry Tapestry, St Mary’s Guildhall and the city, and we can’t wait to help share the findings.”
The book has contributions from experts who explore the tapestry’s origins, its connection to Coventry’s medieval past, and its restoration with stunning high-resolution photographs.
