Mithrim, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1977, tapisserie, tissage Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Studio Nicolas Roger
review

Threads of the Middle-earth. “Aubusson Weaves Tolkien” exhibition in Paris.

On the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s completion of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s enchanting tapestries will be for the first time exhibited outside the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie in Aubusson and showcased at the Parisian institution of the Collège des Bernardins. 

By Unknown photo studio commissioned by Tolkien's students 1925/6 (private communication from Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien Archivist, Bodleian Library) - Epistle of Dude, Photos from the lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, probably originally sourced from John Garth, Tolkien and the Great War, Public Domain, Wiki Commons.
By Unknown photo studio commissioned by Tolkien’s students 1925/6 (private communication from Catherine McIlwaine, Tolkien Archivist, Bodleian Library) – Epistle of Dude, Photos from the lives of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, probably originally sourced from John Garth, Tolkien and the Great War, Public Domain, Wiki Commons.

The Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson, France, signed an agreement with the Tolkien Estate to create an exclusive series of thirteen tapestries and one carpet to be woven at Aubusson over the course of four years. The creations are based on the original illustrations by Tolkien, as he was not only a renowned author but also a highly talented illustrator who began creating as a child and continued to do so throughout his life. Many of the works published during his life were accompanied by his illustrations. Aubusson Weaves Tolkien exhibition will present fifteen tapestries from the Hanging, based on Tolkien’s original graphic work and created by the workshops of the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie. 

The Gardens of the Merking's palace, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1992, tapisserie, tissage Atelier A2, Aubusson, 2024, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Stu
The Gardens of the Merking’s palace, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1992, tapisserie, tissage Atelier A2, Aubusson, 2024, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Stu
Rivendell, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Gill
Rivendell, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Gill
Map of Middle earth, d’après l'oeuvre originale de Christopher Tolkien © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1954, tapis, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot Aubusson, 2023, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisseri
Map of Middle earth, d’après l’oeuvre originale de Christopher Tolkien © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1954, tapis, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot Aubusson, 2023, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisseri

To provide an insight into the religious dimension of Tolkien’s work, too, the tapestries will be on display in the nave, the former sacristy and the 18th-century staircase of the Collège des Bernardins and completed by memorabilia from private collections. The exhibition takes us on an epic journey through the magnificent land of Elves, dark forests outside of space and time, white shores, and intimidating hills of Isengard and Mordor. Like Bilbo’s journey recorded in song and legend, these tapestries preserve the wonder of Middle-earth in a medium as enduring as the tales themselves.

Conversation with Smaug, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier 2, Aubusson, 2022, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Studio
Conversation with Smaug, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier 2, Aubusson, 2022, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Studio
Bilbo woke up with the Early Sun in his Eyes, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, Aubusson, 2020, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie.
Bilbo woke up with the Early Sun in his Eyes, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, Aubusson, 2020, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie.
Moria gate, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien © The Tolkien Trust 1995, tapisserie, Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, 2021, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Studio Nicolas Roger
Moria gate, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien © The Tolkien Trust 1995, tapisserie, Atelier Françoise Vernaudon, 2021, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Studio Nicolas Roger

Aubusson Weaves Tolkien

presented by the Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie in Aubusson,
on the view at the Collège des Bernardins

from March 21 to May 18, 2025

More

Mithrim, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1977, tapisserie, tissage Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Studio Nicolas Roger
Mithrim, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1977, tapisserie, tissage Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Studio Nicolas Roger
The Trolls, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Gill
The Trolls, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot Aubusson, 2019, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Gill
Halls of Manwë – Taniquetil, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1973, tapisserie, tissage Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, 2018, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie - Studio
Halls of Manwë – Taniquetil, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Trust 1973, tapisserie, tissage Ateliers Pinton, Aubusson, 2018, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie – Studio
Christmas 1926, d’après l'oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1976, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot, Aubusson, 2018, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie.
Christmas 1926, d’après l’oeuvre originale de J.R.R. Tolkien, © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1976, tapisserie, tissage Atelier Tapisserie Guillot, Aubusson, 2018, Collection Cité internationale de la tapisserie.

About The Author

Berenika
Balcer

Content editor & social media specialist, and writer. A Lancaster University graduate with a degree in Media and Cultural Studies. As an undergrad, she created The Lambert, the first and only Polish student media in the UK, and later worked in social media and communications. While interested in all things culture, she has participated in various film criticism workshops and helped at various film festivals. She also publishes film analyses and reviews, facilitating her own corner of the internet. Currently based in Poland.

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