1.0 History of China Woolen Needlepoint tapestry Carpet
Woolen needlepoint tapestry is the art of creating stitches with a tapestry needle and bright color wool yard on an open weave hard line mesh fabrics know as canvas.
Yantai is the birthplace of China woolen needlepoint tapestry. Actually this amazing art was introduced to Yantai by French missionary, it was said that her name is Ms. Smith. Around beginning of 20th century, China’s first woolen needlepoint tapestry factory was set up at Xi’nan village of Chefoo (the old name of Yantai), less than 1 km away from the old residence of my grandparents. Their made tapestries were mainly exported to USA through James McMullan Co., Ltd constantly and regularly, again this is a company set up by British missionary named James McMullan, who is the founder of Chefoo industrial mission. Meanwhile his wife named Lily McMullan introduced another kind of fork handicraft cotton bobbin lace from England to Yantai. End of 19th century, cotton bobbin lace started to be exporting to British, German and France continually. So “Lily McMullan was eventually credited with starting the whole embroidery industry in Shantung province” (which is the old name of Shandong, Yantai is a city of Shandong province), according to <<Leaving China>>, a book written by the grandson of James McMullan. Last year was the 100 years anniversary of Mr. James McMullan passing away, we think at this special moment it will have special meaning for us to recall him: he and his wife did not only show unconditional loving, caring and supporting for the people in the bottom society (including orphans and poor people etc.) of Yantai through his industry mission, but also boosting the whole industry and exporting business for Yantai (at that time more than 0.1 million persons in Yantai were engaged in the manufacturing of woolen needlepoint tableau rugs or tapestry and cotton bobbin lace for supplying to James McMullan Co.,Ltd)
2.0 Why Yantai tapestry to be known as “oriental oil painting”?
During the development of needlepoint tapestry for more than 100 years, Yantai local artisans integrated the exquisite embroidery technique (which is the traditional folk art of Yantai) into Europe woolen needlepoint tapestry and created their own style, which later became world-wide known as the “oriental oil painting”.
Specifically, our artisans did some innovation to the technique of European woolen needlepoint: for instance, in order to make a realistic effect, they created more technical stitching (more than 60 kinds of stitching method), such as using mess stitching to show the curving hairs of lady. Sometimes in order to show different tones and get gradual transition of tone, they choose to split one stronger thread to be single yarns then put several single yarns of different but similar colors together to be one thread.
Most of our tapestries are the reproduction of world famous oil paintings: rich colorful wool yarn can meet the complex color requirement of painting. Tapestry wool’s gentle twist and thickness provide excellent canvas coverage with a smooth and even texture. Adding the sense of fluffy and burnishing of fine wool (but no reflection of light, this is the unique character of woolen artwork) the quality woolen needlepoint tapestry is even better than the original oil painting one.
If we can use a beautiful melody to describe woolen needlepoint tapestry, the perfect combination of European folk art and traditional fork embroidery of Yantai composes the climax of this melody!
3.0 We’re working diligently for reviving tapestry which is valuable heritage
Nowadays, our living space is flooded with industrial goods, including some decorative items. People start to miss the warm feeling and individual creativity for handmade products. In order to revive this kind of valuable cultural heritage, in Yantai there are some woolen needlepoint tapestry artisans are working diligently for it. But the skillful artisans are rare and they are getting older, my aunt is one of them. She started embroidering woolen needlepoint tapestry at the age of 16 years old. Sometimes I am confused if her lovely character inspired her works or her works influenced and developed her lovely character……she said: “as long as you love the tapestry, you will not forget it for the whole life time”. So do me! Around 15 years ago, I was attracted by a piece of portrait tapestry deeply and I cannot forget it until now. I think that I really need to do something related tapestry. This tiny voice is hidden into my heart deeply, until one day it becomes so big, I think it is the time to release this voice to worldwide…
Any feedback, innovation suggestions or tailor made solutions for our products will be fully appreciated by us, since you are the source of our growing strength!! May these amazing handicrafts created by fingertips attracting you and enlightening your heart like Lily of the Valleys!
