Mapperton's Tapestries - Behind the Scenes at Mapperton Episode 23

We had so many comments about the tapestries section from my Christmas special 'American Aristocrat' episode, that we thought we would film an update about plans for the tapestries at Mapperton in 2021. We are hoping to fundraise to have these repaired, and restored to their former glory.
As you can see from this episode, the tapestries are in a very poor condition. Not only are they falling apart in places, but in the Victorian era, they were cut up and pieced together to fit certain walls in the West Room and Dining Room. Part of the process of restoring these fabrics will be to piece together the full scene again.
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[@saradecapua3264]

I had an early 1800 cleaned and repaired some fire damage. After hearing your costs, I won't complain about the price. In the end it was worth every penny when I saw colors that had been hidden. Good luck in restoring your pieces. They are beautiful.

[@livesandhistories]

This magnificent house is wrapped in history. Amazing. Thank you for sharing the stories.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@todd755]

The tapestries do deserve your restoration! Each one could take 6-9 years though sadly. Have you set up a Preservation Fund? Your home is so warm and lovely and filled with magnificent pieces. I look forward to following your journey.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Not yet! But we will. be implementing one. soon!

[@louisetrott5532]

A fantastic episode about very important artworks.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Wood, coal, kerosene and tobacco smoke is so damaging. In the terrible wildfires here in Northern California last August, everything in my house got covered in smoke. I don’t have historic things or valuables, but it’s still a lot of cleaning. Last night, May 10, we had the first wildfire, but the fire season doesn’t usually get bad until July.

[@annegaray4612]

This information about the tapestries is really incredibly interesting! Thanks so much for this info

[@cakanemovies]

I love all the videos on the tapestries, well I love all your videos. They are all so fascinating. Excited to follow along on this journey with you. 💛🤍🤎💛💙🧡❤️💜

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you so much!

[@rondabeal5204]

Its June 2021, I hope these have made it to the repair shop. I can't wait to see the adventure.

[@louiseparker8439]

That was so interesting! Hope to see them restored this year xxx

[@Rebekahlow]

The West Room is extraordinary!!!!!! I'm so pleased to watch this episode on tapestries!!!! Love from Vermont

[@jacquelinewillems981]

15th century bed would have originally had floor length tapestry curtains all around and closed to keep the warmth in while sleeping. ❤ Racine, WI USA

[@JeanineMarieCompassion]

I can’t wait to see the restorations!

[@jilljunkala8132]

This is a treat, thank you for doing this channel! Especially appreciate that it preserves the stories behind the artifacts, so they're not lost to time.

[@mmgwife]

Leash train your fur children (kitties) and then you can let them explore the public rooms under supervision. I had a leash trained kitty and would always take her out to unusual places. She loved it. The tapestries are beautiful! I hope to see them in person one day.

[@1-daydecorating8]

It's wonderful that you care about the place and it shows!

[@txspacemom765]

Tapestries...cute wooly cozy outtfit...old home..check check check! Love it!

[@pascaline161]

Poseidon and neptune are the same, but one is the greek word and the other the latin word 😉

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

When you refer to other videos, could you put a link in the description box? Thanks so much, I really want to see the tapestry restoration one.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Will do!

[@marthabakry7353]

Textiles get so fragile over time and very few have survived across the board. It might be better to stabilize and store the originals, and then have reproductions made to hang in the rooms.

[@susiehall3529]

Julie, have a super day @ may your task lists be short @ relaxation time be long and restful .

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you, I will

[@JOLENE2008]

lol I loved "Stormy"

[@ibuguru]

We need an episode on the kitty-babies!

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

So interesting thanks

[@cindijennings2285]

I would love to have a tour and explanation of the all the art.

[@rhondamartin3575]

Beautiful ❤️!

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you! 😊

[@rhondamartin3575]

@@AmericanViscountess You're welcome! I just watched a motivational speeches you did and I took notes! You've dealt with a lot in your married life and my heart goes out to you! I want to implement some of your ideas into my life! Thank you!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

We can’t see the tapestry, only two pools of light from the table lamps. It would be better if they were off, I think they’re just too close to the tapestry.

[@Familylawgroup]

Does the Royal Family have any type of charitable foundation that might sponsor or financially assist certain aristocrat restoration projects? I understand the Royal Family has many historic foundations, but it seems like it would be a wonderful project for certain royals like Duke of Cambridge or the Prince of Wales to have an annual application process to assist land rich yet cash-poor aristocrats in order to preserve British history for a longer period of time.

[@louisetrott5532]

The Royal Family have so many historic properties (owned by The Crown and owned personally) of their own to maintain that I doubt they have such a fund. Prince Charles as an individual has bought a house and set up a fund for that restoration.

[@1-daydecorating8]

Who were the original people that made the tapestries? And how did the Victorians end up with them? They seem rather barbaric, using coal and cutting up fine tapestries.

[@janebaker966]

The tapestries is so interesting,I hope your project to restore them is going well. They were brand new once! But my attention was captured by the pussy cats. Made the film for me!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I adore cats, but they can do 300 years of fabric damage in 3 minutes. A big deal for me, I bought a leather chair five years ago. By the time I could run into the next room, yelling, my cat shredded it!

[@AmericanViscountess]

Oh wow!

[@susiehall3529]

Snow here with hail ! All the weather has been really cold but i like the brisk windy weather ! Is Mapperton weather like Oregon ?

[@Sharon-we5cd]

Is that cat “Stormagedin: Dark Lord of All?” Who got the reference?

[@pattimessenger6214]

I think that in the places where the tapestry was cut, and pieced together, not quite right, there may be a reason. Maybe your husband’s ancestors saw the tapestries degrading, with large holes. So they cut out the bad strips and had the tapestries stitched back up without the bad part.

[@AmericanViscountess]

I could well imagine that's what they did. Thank you for the comment, I'll be sure to update everyone soon about the tapestries

[@Glittergirltjh1235]

I’m now wondering if there has been any progress towards the tapestry restoration?

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Eros maybe on fountain

[@ladybarbarapinsonartist431]

Conservation: are there conservation societies that may support this tapestry restoration project?

[@chatterjeelinda4]

Julie keeps referring to a previous episode. What was the title or episode number of that? I missed it.

[@kellysherrard257]

do you reupholster the chairs in your house ??

[@Artistsculptor1776]

How can you never clean them? I am surprised folks don’t have asthma or worse.

[@lisaevans7293]

It musy have been a childrens bed? It looks it and i know back then they did make beds just for children same as they do now but they looked more like adult beds.

[@michaelholowka2361]

Hi Lisa, l read a while back that hundreds of years ago people used to sleep sitting upright, it was thought that if you slept on your back you could die and that's why the beds were short, Cheers

[@pheart2381]

People were much shorter in those days,and like Michael points out people wernt laying flat,possibly because the ropes supporting the mattress sagged in the middle. I think in Tudor times the avarage man was 5foot 2inches?

[@louisetrott5532]

People slept sitting or propped up to prevent congestion of the chest. No antibiotics to combat chest infection.

[@chatterjeelinda4]

How old are the tapestries?

[@robertsidelinger6936]

Any 2022 updates?

[@shalee7155]

seems like too much trouble to restore.

[@susanfabian1521]

Why not start a Go Fund Me for your tapestries? There's enough interest with your viewers to do them one at a time. I'm fascinated.

[@gailobrecht5646]

Dear Julie, Hi!! Has the tapestry fund been set up yet? Where would one send a donation to you from the states and to whom should it be made out to? Thank you!! ~G~

[@AmericanViscountess]

If head to www.Mappertonlive.com 🥰

[@gailobrecht5646]

@@AmericanViscountess Thank you, Julie!

[@ovh992]

No offense but those tapestries look beyond repair. Tapestries weren't really meant to last forever.

[@DeadBecky]

How so? They just looked a bit dingy to me. Anything that comes from another era from one's family is worth any trouble.

[@ovh992]

@@DeadBecky take a closer look. They are shredded. Fabric that is hung is eventually destroyed by gravity. Think of silk drapes that split apart. Over a few hundred years tapestries are also affected by smoke, sunlight, insects, humidty, and more. The tapestries are made of natural fibers such as silk or wool. These fibers don't last forever. Eventually they disintegrate.

[@DeadBecky]

@@ovh992 I see what you are saying. I just couldn't see to the degree as you must can. Probably due to the type of phone I'm using.

[@louisetrott5532]

If the conservators say the tapestries can be restored and conserved, then I'm inclined to believe them. These art works of art, like paintings.

[@ovh992]

@@louisetrott5532 they are nothing like paintings. They are fabric. Natural fibers disintegrates over time and there is very little to stop that after 200 years.. That is why there are very few pieces of clothing left from Henry 8th or Elizabeth I. If you ever see clothing from ancient Egypt or ancient Greece or the Renaissance you will note they are just fragments of fabric. Julie said herself that restoring them would be a fortune and that they would basically have to be rewoven. There were also not cared for properly- they were not regularly cleaned and they were always on display and received a lot of damage from sunlight and electric light and maybe gas lighting and candle light. The restorers said they could be restored because they could charge a fortune and get away with it. Educate yourself.

[@cherylyoung440]

Why did you buy a house in Italy when these tapestries need to be repaired? It seems to me you people want to live high with expensive cars and such but you want others to pay your maintenance fees for the house or your just spending the money wrong. Get the priority straight. That seems to be an ongoing theme with the aristocracy over there. I drive a Toyota Camry because that’s what I can afford. I give you 20 dollars a month as a patron because I think it’s important to save these valuable pieces of history, however there is accountability on your end. Maybe you need to buy a Toyota Camry instead of an Audi or Mercedes you really can’t afford that kind of car when your house is falling apart. Shame on the ancestors that squandered the money 💰 Alberta gave. Shame on all of them.