De Antwerpenaar Frans Spiering was eigenaar van een bloeiend weefatelier toen de Spanjaarden in 1576 zijn stad binnenvielen. Hij week uit naar Delft, waar hij in 1582 een nieuwe werkplaats opende. Hij trouwde met de brouwersdochter Maria Menninck. De Zuid-Nederlander Spiering leverde tapijten van ongekende kwaliteit en verwierf talloze prestigieuze opdrachten. De werkplaats maakte gebruik van 'freelance' ontwerpers, onder wie de kunstenaar Karel van Mander II. Tussen 1615 en 1623 begon Van Mander voor zichzelf en vormde zo een bedreiging voor Spiering. In 1620 droeg Frans Spiering de leiding over aan zijn zoon Aert.

Francois Spiering / Spierincx. Arrived in Delft 1591, became member of the Guild in 1613. In his successful tapestry workshop he produced figurative (pictorial) tapestries. He was visited in 1598 by the diarist Aernout van Buchell (1565?-1641) who in his diary raved about the pictorial quality and colour which was - he wrote - nearly as good as that of oil paints.

From 1592 onwards Spiering's workshop was located at St Agnes convent or Agnietenklooster -alias Spierinxklooster- at the last block of houses of Oosteinde, south side, near East gate. This building measured 6 by 8 meters, having bare walls. It was given to him free of rent as the Town of Delft valued his workshop. From 1599 onwards he rented a yard connected to the St Agnes convent. He employed, each for a certain time, the painters/designers H.C. Vroom and Karel van Mander the elder. Karel van Mander the Younger had started out as a gifted tapestry designer in Spiering's workshop, and he founded his own workshop later on.
In 1613 the States General contracted him to produce a series of grand tapestries for the sum of 16.933 guilders. On May 17, 1616 Van Mander rented a house belonging to the St Anna convent for this purpouse.
Spiering owned an art collection which boasted fine prints and drawings including works from Italy and a superb collection of Lucas van Leyden. This collection was transfered by his sons to The Hague in 1638.

• Married: civil 10 NOV 1582

• Married: civil 13 NOV 1585 in Scheveningen

1. Isac Spiering Guldecroon
2. Aert Spiering b: 1593
3. Pieter Spiering Silvercroon b: ABT 1595
4. Catharina Spiering b: 21 JAN 1595 in Delft