Among thousand colours like blue, yellow, red, women stitch by stitch fill canvas with landscapes, flowers, painting reproductions and faces like a brush stroke.
This historical Madeira tapestry, which gave origin to a real artistic activity, is a result of a free time occupation or a result of subsistence work.
The use of this kind of handicraft into an economically fruitful activity had its origins with the German family Kiebeken. Paul Max Kiebeken, in 1938, decided to create an atelier of tapestries. This way he diversified the embroidery factory production, which he had at Funchal.
He put his son, Herbert Kiebeken, managing this atelier. Beauty and quality of the tapestries are a result of his artistic versatility together with the ability of the embroideresses.
This small atelier due to the success of production improved both the trade volume and workers number.
There are several enterprises that dedicate to this activity. Together with embroidery, these industries have a detached place in the economical Madeira living.
How is done a tapestry in Madeira ?
The process is like an impressionist painting.
Woollen thread replace each brush stroke; the painter is replaced by a professional, who based on a painting embroiders the original at the atelier.
According to what it is pretended to be produced, the craftsman varies his technique in stitches "big", "small", "goblin" or "basting stitches".
The wool came from away, generally from Australia. Before arriving at Madeira, it passes in other places to be treated and dyed in a way that it resists to time and clothes moth.
The original is reproduced and the wool is chosen at the factory. Then it goes to the country where the women fill the new cross-stitch canvas. Often the reproductions are done by order.
After finishing, the work returns again to the factory, where it is verified, ironed and finished off.
Then it receives the guarantee seal affixed by the Madeira Embroidery, Tapestry and Handicraft Institute (IBTAM).
Madeira tapestry is employed and used in handbags, chair covers panels, carpets and cushions. It will pass generation to generation since the material quality together with the workers proficiency is the best guarantee.