Wassail Tapestries

Description: Charles Mackintosh, 1868 - 1928, Scottish architect, designer and artist, husband to Margaret Macdonald. Both famous Art Nouveau, Symbolist artists from the last century. Featured here, 'The Wassail' is an image of the original gesso wall frieze made for a ladies tearoom. Gesso was applied over stretched hessian giving it a textured look with earthy colours. His wife, Margaret was commissioned at the same time to do a very similar panel which was also hung in the tearoom labelled, 'The May Queen'.

Description: The Mari Lwyd (Welsh: Y Fari Lwyd) is a wassailing folk custom found in South Wales. The tradition entails the use of an eponymous hobby horse which is made from a horse's skull mounted on a pole and carried by an individual hidden under a sackcloth.

Description: Waes Hael is an ancient Old English phrase meaning "be in good health" or "good fortune," often used as a toast or blessing. Rooted in Anglo-Saxon traditions, it embodies themes of community, well-being and celebration. The term is historically associated with the custom of wassailing, where people shared spiced cider or ale during festive gatherings, particularly in midwinter.