Over $139.2 million USD sent to artisans so far!

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.

Mirrors

Relief Panels

Wall Art

Tapestries

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

Ceramic decorative plate, 'Cat and Birds'

Lee

Apr 18, 2020

Fun, with a message of peace!

As one who has rescued non-human animals for many years, this art really spoke to me! I believe my cat and birds love it, too!

A Creative Gifts !

Animal Wall Art!!

Cat Art

Colorful Wall Art

Decorative Wall Plates

Wood relief panel, 'Tree Cross'

Kasia

Jun 21, 2018

true beauty

Thank you so much for this breathtaking and original piece of art! You are so talented. The little postcard and a note made it extra special.

Garden Wall Decoration

Hand Carved Wooden Crosses

Memorial Gift

Narrow Wall Hanging

Prayer Room Decor!!

Cotton wreath, 'Quitapena Love'

Wendy

Feb 14, 2020

Enchanting

This wonderful heart is just breathtaking, for any time of year. I sent it to MYSELF, as I am a widow and felt sure my husband would want me to have it. ;-) I'm so glad I did! It is hanging on my office wall, and I can't stop looking at it. The craftsmanship is superb. One small comment: it is smaller than I had anticipated, but that's fine. It is delicate, beautifully made, and perfect.

Beautiful

Beautiful Christmas Decor

Cute

Gift

Featured Artist

Seji Taram Hand-carved sculptures

(313)

"I'll always remember what my husband said before died, he wanted me to carry on caring wisely for our children, and he also encouraged me to be a stronger woman for our children's sake."

It is with a very heavy heart that we mourn the death of Ketut Taram from lung cancer. He was the best man I ever knew, and the best husband I could... 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 Spring Catalog

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

SHOP THE CATALOG

Welcome!

New Wishlist

Unique Gifts

Curated Gift Boxes

Build Your Own Gift Sets

Express Gifts

Gift Cards

Special Collections

Women's Jewelry

Men's Jewelry

Materials

Collections

Popular & New

Women's Clothing

Women's Accessories

Men's Fashion

Handbags

Seasonal Collections

Home Accessories

Home Furnishings

Kitchen and Dining

Decor Collections

Special Collections

Discipline

Subject Matter

Color Themes

Special Collections

Explore, Empower, Impact

Call 1-877-266-8422

Wall Decor

The Village Council

Featured Reviews

Seji Taram Hand-carved sculptures

Related Articles

The Spring Catalog