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William Morris Gallery Shop

The Arming and Departure of the Knights of the Round Table - Tapestry (67 x 105cm)

Regular price
£350.00 GBP
Regular price
Sale price
£350.00 GBP
The Holy Grail Tapestries: The Arming and Departure of the Knights of the Round Table on the Quest for the Holy Grail

This beautiful tapestry is woven on a jacquard loom by skilled weavers, keeping alive the centuries old tradition of tapestry manufacturing from generation to generation. This tapestry is fully lined incorporating a sleeve along the top for hanging with a hanging rod. Alternatively, this tapestry can be hung with a wooden batten which is a concealed method of hanging.

- 67 x 105cm (a larger version is also available)

- A hanging rod can be bought separately for orders within the UK (size 3 - £68) - please contact us for details

This tapestry was designed by Edward Burne-Jones, J. H. Dearle and William Morris and was woven by Morris & Company in their studio at Merton Abbey, Surrey, around 1895. The original tapestry was commissioned by William Knox DArcy to decorate his house, Stanmore Hall in Middlesex.

Inspired from the ancient legends of King Arthur, the scene represents the arming and departure of the Knights of the Round Table, among whom are Sir Gawaine of Orkney, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Bors de Gamys, Sir Percival and Sir Galahad. The setting of the departure is outside the walls of Camelot, the legendary court of the realm of King Arthur. Against a background of a dark and perilous forest, the ladies of the court are helping to arm the mounted knights. On the left, Queen Guinevere is seen handing a shield to Sir Galahad, while to the right Sir Gawaine is prominent, holding a shield with a golden eagle.

The mille-fleurs (thousand flowers) in the foreground is derived from medieval tapestries, and was designed by J.H.Dearle, providing a gothic atmosphere to the scene. Although the theme is not intended to depict any particular period of history, the costumes are based on styles from the Middle Ages, the Arthurian legends having evolved over a long period of time. The figures were designed by Burne-Jones and the heraldry by William Morris.