FIBER ON MY PATH ~ St Louis Art Museum
You may dispute that this subject is NOT fiber art - understandable! However, in this display, there are several connections, including huge Belgian tapestries that enliven gallery walls with color and warmth.
A second connection between fiber art and pounded steel armor is the shapes, forms and decorative imagery used. Trends in armor fashion literally were shaped by men’s fashion of the time.
Notice how men’s fashion is mimicked in the shapes used in the armor. Broad toed shoes were haute couture. Even the gorgeous pattern on the surface of the metal is inspired by brocade fabrics. Protective gloves, part of a suit of armor, are called gauntlets. Throwing Down these fancy gauntlets as a challenge, one must throw them down carefully!
Chain mail is made by linking small metal rings. The result is a cloth-like product, flexible yet strong enough to thwart spears and arrows. A waistcoat of the period shows men’s fashion - this example is in amazingly good condition.
There are several very large and magnificent tapestries in the exhibit. To see only the tapestries is worth a visit to the ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM!
For those of you who are huge armor fans, consider a trip to London. The Wallace Collection has an extremely large collection of armor; however, it is only a small bit - as the Brits say. You will be awestruck by an even larger portion of the collection, paintings by artists whose work you have always wanted to see.