Juan David Latorre
Malek Twal, ambassador of the League of Arab States, paid a visit last Thursday to the Real Fábrica de Tapices of Madrid, organised by the Círculo Intercultural Hispano Árabe (CIHAR) and its president, Abdo Tounsi, in which they were accompanied as hosts by the general director of the Factory, Alejandro Klecker, together with the Communication and Marketing team, Raquel Martín and María Eugenia Ramiro.
During the visit, Ambassador Twal was interested in the rich and important history of Muslim culture in the artisan tradition of tapestry making and at all times received a detailed and exhaustive explanation from the general manager, Alejandro Klecker, of the history and the extremely careful and patient processes used to bring the tapestries and carpets to fruition.
The ambassador of the League of Arab States also had the honour of finishing and giving the final cut to a carpet made in three weeks with a Turkish knot, measuring 3.45 x 1.20 metres, with a total of 70,000 knots, 456 per run. The wool used in its production is 100% Spanish virgin merino wool and the warp is made of jute and cotton.
Afterwards, the visitors, together with the detailed explanations of the general director, visited the cleaning, laboratory, restoration and disinfection departments of the Royal Factory, where they were able to see the detailed and exquisite knowledge and treatment of the work carried out there.
The Royal Tapestry Factory is a leading historical manufactory in the field of the manufacture and restoration of exclusive fabrics founded in 1721 and since 1882 has been located in a building at Calle Fuenterrabía, 2 (very close to Atocha), in the neo-Mudéjar style and designed by the Major Palace Architect, José Segundo de Lema.
