Bayeux Tapestry's Immersive Medieval Experience Explored by Expert
Alexandra Lester-Makin, an expert in embroidery and textile archaeology with a focus on the early medieval era (450-1100 CE), played a significant role in the British Museum's catalogue for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, scheduled from September 2026 to July 2027. Her study examined both sides of the tapestry to uncover its embroidery methods, emphasizing how it engages audiences as cognitive and sensory material culture. She posits that the tapestry acted as a visual counterpart to the scop, enabling viewers to interpret its 68-meter-long story. The tactile and dynamic qualities of the tapestry fostered an immersive experience, likened to 'theatre in the round.' This research is part of a larger exploration of early medieval material culture, citing over 1,000 published sources.
Key facts
- Alexandra Lester-Makin contributed to the British Museum's catalogue for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.
- The exhibition runs from September 2026 to July 2027.
- Lester-Makin is a professional embroiderer and textile archaeologist specializing in 450-1100 CE.
- She previously analyzed the tapestry's reverse from photographs and microscopically examined the front.
- The tapestry is 68 metres long.
- Over 1,000 published works exist on the Bayeux Tapestry.
- Lester-Makin argues the tapestry was a visual form of the scop, an early medieval storyteller.
- The tapestry would move with draughts, making images appear kinetic.
- Viewers would touch the tapestry and have tactile experiences.
- The tapestry is described as 'theatre in the round'.
Entities
Artists
- Alexandra Lester-Makin
Institutions
Locations
- United Kingdom