11th Century

Although the weaving of tapestry has been dated back to the ancient Egyptians, we start herein the origins of French tapestry dating from the 11th Century.

The Bayeux Tapestry is the only masterpiece of it's kind in the world and is displayed in a purpose bulit museum in the French town of Bayeux. It is a historical record beginning in 1064 and retraces the the events leading to the conquest of England and culminates with the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by William the Conqueror.

The tapestry in reality is a hand embroidery on linen cloth using wools of various colours. The tapestry is 70 meters long and half meter high and experts generally agree that it was woven by nuns in an Anglo-Saxon workshop (England) supervised by the Odeon de Conteville, Bishop of Bayeux and half brother of William the Conqueror.

The depicted portion of the  Bayeux Tapestry shows Harold's last meal on land before embarking to Normandy to inform William that it is Edward the Confessor's wish that William succeed to the throne of England.