Felt is the oldest textile form on earth. The earliest prehistoric findings date from the Neolithic period (6500-6300 B.C.). Other important finds come from the Bronze and Iron Ages, especially from nomadic people of the Altai Mountains in the U.S.S.R.  Felt is still made today in eastern Europe, Asia and by nomads in Tibet , where they use the material for clothing and tent coverings.

Felt is a non-woven material made of wool. Using clean and combed fleece (sometimes dyed), felt is obtained by using heat, water, pressure and agitation. Today commercial felt-making is done by machines in factories. Products include hats, felt for craft projects and specialized felt for industrial use.

The artist who makes felt today does so in the same way that prehistoric man did.  There is tremendous time spent cleaning and carding wool, dying the wool, mixing the colors of wool fleece, forming the layers, making the actual felt and then doing the finishing. It is all done by hand with virtually the same tools that have been used for centuries.

Care of sculptures:  Felt is easily cleaned and repaired. Wool does not absorb dirt.  Dust may be vacuumed off occasionally with a hose-type vacuum cleaner (use a piece of cheesecloth to cover end of hose) or dusted occasionally with a nylon net ball. (provided by the artist). Even though the best of dyes have been used, the sculpture should not be hung in direct sunlight.