Damask
Damask (
History
The production of damask was one of the five basic weaving techniques—the others being tabby, twill, lampas, and tapestry—of the Byzantine and Middle Eastern weaving centres of the early Middle Ages.[3] In daily nomadic life this form of weaving was generally employed by women, in the course of such occupations as carpet-making. Women would collect the raw material from pasture animals and dyes from local flora such as berries, insects, or grasses. Each woman would create a specialized pattern sequence and use of color that was customary to her ethnic group and even herself. These techniques would often be handed down from mother to daughter as well.[4]
In China, draw looms with a large number of
The word damask first appeared in records in a Western European language in the mid-14th century in
In the 19th century, the invention of the
Modern usage
Modern damasks are woven on computerized Jacquard looms.[1] Damask weaves are commonly produced in monochromatic (single-colour) weaves in silk, linen or synthetic fibres such as rayon and feature patterns of flowers, fruit and other designs. The long floats of satin-woven warp and weft threads cause soft highlights on the fabric which reflect light differently according to the position of the observer. Damask weaves appear most commonly in table linens and furnishing fabrics, but they are also used for clothing.[5] The damask weave is used extensively throughout the fashion industry due to its versatility and high-quality finish. Damask is usually used for mid-to-high-quality garments, meaning the label tends to have a higher definition and a more “expensive” look.
See also
- Diapering (damask patterns in heraldry)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-13-118769-4, p. 251
- ^ a b Monnas, Lisa. Merchants, Princes and Painters: Silk Fabrics in Italian and Northern Paintings 1300–1550. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2008, pp. 295–299
- ^ ISBN 0-521-34107-8, p. 343.
- ISBN 978-3-7913-8566-2.
- ^ ISBN 0-500-28247-1.
- ^ "A World of Looms: Weaving Technology and Textile Arts in China and Beyond". China National Silk Museum. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "What is Damask Fabric", 9 February 2012 Period Home and Garden, accessed 2 March 2021
- ^ "Damas" etymology (in French). www.cnrtl.fr accessed 2 March 2021