Silk Brocade Document

Date1740-1755

MediumSilk

DimensionsOverall (H x W): 52 1/4 x 21 1/4in. (132.7 x 54cm) Other (Design Repeat H x W): 29 x 10 5/8in. (73.7 x 27cm) Physical Description (PPI): 88 Physical Description (EPI): 152

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1953-1163,1

DescriptionThis rust-red rectangular silk fragment has a symmetric design of pink roses and blue flowers on white scrollwork along the sides with a rose bouquet in the center. There is self figuring around the brocaded design in the form of leaves and diaper-patterned scrollwork. The fragment is cut and repieced down the center, with the allowance covered with linen canvas. The top and bottom edges are cut and raw, and the sides are held in selvedges. The selvedge is ¼” wide (or 14 warps wide). The outside 4 warps are thick to look corded; the others are twisted with the brocade colors—mostly yellow or lime green.
Label TextUnlike today, when labor is generally more expensive than materials, in the eighteenth century silk was much more valuable than the labor that when into weaving it. Because of that, brocade yarns did not stretch all the way across the width of the fabric like they do in modern fabric.
MarkingsNo marks or inscriptions.
ProvenanceObtained by Ernest LoNano Interiors;
Sold to CWF, 1953.