Product description
Pattern
Although the textile fragment upon which this historical reproduction is based is certainly from the Near East, the pattern of grapevines with leaves is of Italian origin. It was common for weavers in various regions to borrow elements from foreign styles and incorporate them into their own designs.
Here, however, the pattern was copied outright and did not serve just as inspiration. While the overall stylization and the addition of a small rosette at the center of each grape leaf belong to the Near Eastern tradition, the pattern itself, dominated by grape leaves with small bunches of grapes, comes from Italy. Similar patterns can be found on surviving textiles and art from the latter 14th century in particular.
Fabric
This historical brocade reproduction is a pure silk Jacquard weave with gold-plated metallic thread. These premium materials make this brocade sturdy but soft, gentle to the touch, and breathable.
This fabric is made on an automatic Jacquard loom, but the pattern is prepared by hand. The weaver first sketches the design and then painstakingly transfers it (also by hand) to the punch card. This process results in slight irregularities in the weave. These tiny imperfections are not considered defects, but rather a natural feature of hand crafting.
Applications
Reproductions of period brocades such as this are perfect for sewing historical costumes and also bring something special to modern interiors or contemporary fashions.
We recommend lining this brocade with a natural material such as silk or fine linen.
Care
We recommend dry cleaning this fabric at a reliable dry cleaner. In our tests of how to wash silk this fabric stood up to gentle hand washing. If you risk hand washing, use lukewarm water and a delicate detergent for woolens; do not wring or squeeze dry; block dry on a flat surface. Dry iron on the back on the lowest setting.
