Medieval life and leisure in the Devonshire hunting tapestries - Linda Woolley

The four magnificent Devonshire Tapestries housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum are the only great 15th-century tapestries to survive the ravages of time. This book is a celebration of them and offers a unique insight into the world of the late Middle Ages in rich and fascinating detail.;Hunting was a favourite pursuit of princes and noblemen in medieval and renaissance Europe. The elaborate rituals of the hunt were an integral part of court life, but not just as a sport - the meat and game provided were vital ingredients of household fare. The tapestries provide a vivid picture of the hunt in all its forms - falconry, hunting for otter, bear, deer, robbing a swans nest for eggs - and are packed with detail.;In addition the tapestries are a vital source of information about Medieval dress and fashion. We can learn what textiles and patterns were in favour, what styles and shapes of head-dresses, collars, belts and gowns were fashionable and how clothes were worn and by whom. These beautiful works of art are an unrivalled repository of costume and textile history.;Illustrated in full colour with pull out plates showing the complete tapestries in all their glory, this book is a celebration of these unique works of textile art.