An Old and New Tapestry Loom
Tissart loom (photo courtesy of previous owner)
In early January of this year, I opened an email from a friend telling me of a LeClerc “Tissart” tapestry loom for sale. I didn’t give it another thought. Until I suddenly realized I was hearing the words of my mother: “You need another tapestry loom like you need a hole in your head.” She was right. I didn’t “need” another tapestry loom.
However, curiosity got the best of me and I wrote to the contact person. I’d read high praises of this loom from a number of weavers on social media so I - naturally - wanted to learn more.
We had multiple email exchanges in which I learned that the loom had been her great aunt’s. She had it set up in her home for awhile, but had never woven on it. (This I can understand. Looms can be a beautiful addition to any room!)
I asked a lot of questions, like how old and what condition was it in, who was her aunt and what had she woven on it… she sent me more photos, including the image below. She felt her aunt, Florence Van Riper, had probably bought the loom new. She also added that her aunt was in her 80’s in the 70’s (or it might have been the other way around). Florence lived in Hutchinson, KS. painted, wove, and did ceramics too. She was apparently a very talented lady.
Tapestry woven by Florence Van Riper (photo courtesy of previous owner)
None of this told me the age of the loom, but that combined with historical info I could find on the internet (Camilla Valley Farm is an excellent reference for LeClerc seekers), I found this loom was first introduced in 1969 (the 60” width). Camilla Valley Farm has a historical section showing the loom through variations in design . The one I was pursuing didn’t quite look like any of the photos, so I originally thought it must be much older, but I think I was just thrown off by the raddle in place of the apron.
On January 19th, less than two weeks later, I took a beautiful drive north to pick it up.
Once home and taking up rapidly diminishing floor space in my studio, I spent some time cleaning it up. My husband’s advice was not to bother refurbishing the wood. So I didn’t. (Kinda wish I had?) I needed his help in putting it together so I waited patiently until he was ready to take it on. By the time the new reed and heddles I’d ordered had arrived, he was ready.
As we were assembling the parts, we were very grateful to whoever it was that marked each connection with letter, A to L, (♥️) making it much easier to put together. My husband had helped put the Shannock together and was greatly impressed with the design. Not so much with the Tissart. To put it politely, you might say he marveled at the advancement in materials that had improved over the years.
I did a few other things after we got it standing, too. I removed the raddle from the upper beam and replaced it with an apron (and replaced the lower apron at the same time) - although neither were absolutely necessary. I also replaced the steel rods. (Yes, I could have cleaned the existing ones- but let’s just say I had more money than time at that point.)
I still needed to replace a couple of other parts and so I put out a search for more information to my mailing list. With the help and advice from many (thank you!) I was quickly able to locate the spacers necessary for the harnesses to glide smoothly.
The missing crank on the lower beam had us both stumped, though… for months. Until my husband decided he needed to come up with a fix.
My husband’s ingenious fix: inserting a steel hexagon rod with a ratchet as a handle
More time went by. This time because it has been targeted for another collaborative project I’ve gotten involved in. I will need to use this loom because it has to be a specific width: 60cm (~23.75”) and my other looms that can accommodate that width are occupied.
Finally, a few weeks ago, I decided it was time to get it warped and ready to begin the new project.
Tissart all together in my studio. With the cutest little bench (made by the previous owners’ great uncle for his wife). The seat slides!
Happy to say, the warping went fairly smoothly and it now sits ready and waiting.
And that missing crank? It really wasn’t missing at all! The mechanism was there all along. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t recognized it until it became time to advance the warp!
Many thanks to the Tissart owners before me for all your help. You know who you are. 😊♥️🙏
I think I’m going to love this loom.