WALL DECOR

Wall Decor

Explore NOVICA's Wall Decor Collection. Discover mirrors, relief panels and tapestries amid this vast range of unique designs, handcrafted by artisans from around the world. From alpaca tapestries, handwoven using centuries old techniques, to intricate hand-forged metal work, you will find unique designs and materials that showcase the iconic visual representations of each artisan's regional culture.

The Village Council

Your answers straight from the village experts

+ - How do I care for my tapestry?

As with any work of art, direct sunlight will fade colors over time, especially for tapestries with natural dyes. We recommend hanging your tapestry in an area that avoids direct sun exposure to maintain vibrancy. To clean your woven tapestry, use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment or dry clean if necessary. Spot treatment can also be used with a gentle fabric cleaner, but we recommend testing it on a small area first. Alternatively, you may hand wash your tapestry using cold water, then hang it to dry in the shade. Some tapestries made from cotton fabric may be machine washed on cold.

+ - What are the most common materials used to make tapestries?

When it comes to handcrafted traditional tapestries, the most common materials include wool, cotton, silk, and natural dyes. Certain regions incorporate unique materials or designs into their tapestries. In the Andes, alpaca fiber is commonly used. In India, one finds batik printed cotton. In Mexico and Central America sheep wool and natural cotton threads are frequently used. In Thailand, rich silk material is a feature of handmade tapestries.

+ - What makes a tapestry eco-friendly?

To craft an eco-friendly tapestry, traditional artisans hold themselves to high standards, both in terms of materials and processes. Natural fibers, textiles, and dyes are derived from plants and trees. Some artisans even incorporate recycled or upcycled materials in their commitment to eco-friendly processes. Traditional art forms that are passed down through the generations are often painstakingly made by hand. They are naturally eco-friendly, as they avoid mass production, factory runoff, and industrial waste. This also means that each tapestry is uniquetruly one of a kind.

+ - Are tapestries a good way to insulate a room?

When it comes to tapestries, function meets style! A handmade tapestry can be a great way to brighten up any living space while providing insulation against the cold. Materials like alpaca and sheep wool create natural warmth by trapping cool air inside the cloth, creating a more stable temperature within the room.

+ - Are tapestries handmade?

While factory-produced tapestries are increasingly available to consumers, traditional, authentic tapestries are handmade by artisans who often learn the artform from older generations. Skilled makers from the Andes, India, Mexico and Thailand make use of foot-treadle or backstrap looms, where they interweave warp and weft threads and then tamp them down into a tight stitch. An artisan may finish a handmade tapestry by using a needle and thread or a sewing machine for final touches.

+ - What are the most popular tapestry designs?

Traditional tapestries depict scenes and images which are drawn from the lives and natural environments of the artisans who craft them. Some include geometric designs, like the mandala, which is thought to represent wholeness and symmetry. Others make use of paisley, floral, or leafy patterns, particularly in tapestries from India. Central American tapestries may incorporate geometric motifs, animals, and people, while Mexican tapestries are often colorful with Greca patterns and designs. Thai artisans use symbols that are popular within Thai culture, religious characters, animal scenes, or depictions of human forms. Unique tapestries from the Andes are often vibrant with elaborate scenes that incorporate folklore, village life, and pastoral existence.

+ - What are traditional methods of making tapestries?

The methods for making tapestries vary as widely as the regions from which they come. Because many traditional artisans adopt the methods of their ancestors, they have kept those ancient artforms alive and well. In the Andes, weavers often work on a wooden treadle loom in which they use foot pedals, called treadles, to control the weave of the tapestry. In Central America, the treadle loom and the backstrap loom are both integral to tapestry art. The backstrap loom is one of the oldest techniques which dates back thousands of years, in which one part of the loom is attached to the weaver and the other part is attached to a fixed object (historically, a tree). To create vibrant color, artisans embroider and dye their tapestries with natural plants and pigments. Around the world, weavers use tie-dye, Dabu (the application of wax or gum clay and resin to the cloth to create a diffuse color effect), Batik (an ancient method in which dye-resistant wax is applied to cloth to create select patterns of color), hand embroidery, and patchwork to create unique and diverse tapestry art.

+ - Where did tapestries originate?

The tapestry is an ancient textile art form that dates back thousands of years to early civilizations in Peru, Egypt, and Thailand. In Peru, skilled weavers used colorful camelid fiber threads to create beautiful tapestries for ritualistic funeral mantles. Ancient Incas wove short tunics (Unku) to show importance and social status. Ancient Egyptians crafted shroud-like tapestries to bury their dead. Tapestries gained international prominence when Europeans began to decorate their castles and churches with elaborate textiles that depicted historical scenes, as well as religious messages. Today, skilled artisans preserve the ancient techniques of their ancestors. In Thailand, for example, silk weavers are renowned for techniques that have been used since the rule of the Angkor kings circa 800 A.D. In Central America, contemporary weavers pay homage to early Mayan artisans who used plants, shells, and even snails to color their first tapestries in the 15th century. In India, where some of the first tapestries were made and the textile industry became the base of their economy, the skills of generations past still live on in modern artisans.

How do you decorate your home with masks?

Masks have long been used ashome dcor, especially for the eclectic and worldly decorator. Theyre a thoughtful way to tell a story, bring depth and texture to a wall, and complement the rest of your global style. They can also be used to... read more

Featured Reviews

Reverse painted glass mirror, 'Song of Spring'

Amy

Mar 19, 2021

Beautiful Piece!

This was actually larger than I expected, which was great. Beautiful detailing - and it can be used so many ways - looks great either vertical or horizontal. Makes a lovely statement.

Art Piece

Authentic Handmade

Beautiful Elegant Mirror

Mirrors

Reverse painted glass mirror, 'Cajamarca Warmth'

C J

Dec 10, 2019

Absolutely beguiling

Unique, pulls you in. I was amazed at the depth of colors and the first class talent of this artist. I bought another called Golden Rays by this artest that blew me away! I had this one planned for my daughter and the red tones for my son. Soon as I saw them I changed my mind. These are exquisite!

Beautiful Large Wall Mirror

Beautiful Painted Decor

Decorative Mirror

Dsa

Folk Wall Decor

This Piece Makes A Statement W/ Its Unique

Mirrors

Reverse-painted glass mirror, 'Antique Reflections'

Sarah

Dec 3, 2020

Absolutely gorgeous

I have this hanging up in my living room and it is even more beautiful in person than in the picture. I get a lot of compliments on the mirror when I have guests over

Colored Wall Mirrors

Colorful Wall Art

Turquoise Blue Reverse-Painted Glass Box

Turquoise Blue Wall Decor

Wood Wall Decor

Glass Wall Decor

Colonial Wall Decor

Reverse Painted Glass Wall Decor

Hand Painted Wall Decor

Floral Wall Decor

Mirrors

Featured Artist

Asunta Pelaez Reverse-painted glass mirrors and trays

(228)

"A dream is a wish your heart makes. It doesn't come true through magic. It requires determination and hard work."

"My passion for art comes from the depths of my heart. It's in my DNA. From childhood, I attended all the drawing and painting classes at school.... read more

“Reflections of a soul that adopts life,” A portrait of mirror artisan, Marcos Luzalde

Master artisan, Marcos Luzalde "I still remember the nights I spent beneath a sky illuminated by... read more

3 Great Ways To Display Mirrors In Your Home

Mirrors are a great way to decorate the home. Not only do they serve a functional purpose, but also there are... read more

Beauty in Isolation A powerful story from Mexico in

Metal Artisan, Alejando de Esesarte Alejandro de Esesarte remembers the day he mistakenly walked down the... read more

Create a Global Eclectic Style – How to Mix Patterns in your Home

Homes do a lot of heavy emotional lifting. Our decor can be the emblem onto which we project our deepest... read more

How to Choose Wall Dcor to Balance Space and Personality

Does this scenario sound familiar? Every day when you walk into your home, a large, blank wall stares back at... read more

Thoughts About Black History Month From West African Artisans

~Celebrating Black History Month~ Empowerment is fundamental to human dignity, which is why we believe that... read more

Nyepi, Chaos and Calm on the Island of the Gods

Beautiful Bali Silence reigns supreme on the sacred Hindu holiday of Nyepi. The streets of Bali empty out... read more

In Pursuit of Perfection J. Borges

J. Borges didnt learn to write his name until he was 12 years-old. In total, he attended school for ten months... read more

Finding Grace Amidst of Turmoil Dr. Sneh Gangal

In a year filled with challenges, one Indian painter turned her artistic sensibility to the world around her... read more

Erasmus Philip Ahorlu Wishes to Share His Success

NOVICA artisan, Erasmus Philip Ahorlu, at work As the year draws to a close, we asked West African woodcarver... read more

What does it feel like to literally save lives with art?

  On the biggest shopping day of the year, we caught up with Arti Sharma, an incredible woman who has... read more

Creative Cultural Masks Turn Homes Into Museums

Creative cultural mask displays arent just for museums anymore. Visit almost any museum around the world and... read more

The Summer Catalog

Discover our unique collection of beautiful, handmade objects from around the world, inspired by more than a century of exploration.

SHOP THE CATALOG

Express Gifts

Gift Cards

Welcome!

The Village Council

Featured Reviews

Asunta Pelaez Reverse-painted glass mirrors and trays

Related Articles

The Summer Catalog

Handmade with Care.
Delivered with Confidence.

Wall Decor

The Village Council

Featured Reviews

Asunta Pelaez Reverse-painted glass mirrors and trays

Related Articles

The Summer Catalog

Handmade with Care. Delivered with Confidence.

Handmade with Care.
Delivered with Confidence.