Not many of us can afford to put a mortgage on the wall in the form of an original antique tapestry! At a recent Sotheby's auction, aggressive bidding drove prices some 30% over the already high asking prices! The average sale was $47,000! Price isn't the only consideration. Many, even most, old tapestries are in fragile condition. Some antiques are pieces cut from a larger original. Some have been substantially restored, sometimes unprofessionally. Those that have not been substantially 'altered' are often in museums or private collections. Either way, they're very, very costly...and beautiful!

Reproduction tapestries-we speak here of quality European reproductions-attempt to capture as much of the original beauty as possible. Some weavers use old looms, hand-spin and hand-dye their wools and hand-weave. Their finely detailed reproductions of classics may sell from $1000 to $10,000 and more. Other weavers, using faster but good quality Jacquard looms and chemical dyes, produce a superb range of designs and sizes in wool and cotton. They are priced generally from $150.00 for a small 2 ft x 2 ft cotton tapestry to $6000.00 for a very large 9 ft x 22 ft tapestry. It's up to you-and your pocket book.