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Materials Glossary Details

Brocade

Mactaggart Art Collection Read more about this collection »

TypeMaterials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles

Term Brocade Alternate Term(s) supplementary weft patterning Type Materials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles Definition

Brocade describes a type of woven fabric that features a multi-coloured pattern created using a discontinuous supplementary weft structure. Brocade is easily identified by the long floats on the backside of the…

Brocade describes a type of woven fabric that features a multi-coloured pattern created using a discontinuous supplementary weft structure. Brocade is easily identified by the long floats on the backside of the fabric, which occur when the colourful weft yarns are not in use on the surface design. These floats make the fabric slightly thicker than other multi-coloured fabrics, such as tapestry. Brocade fabric can have a variety of ground fabrics, including twill, plain weave, leno, and satin. Brocade is woven on a complex loom (called a “drawloom”) that is operated by two weavers: one on the top of the loom (“drawboy”) and a second craftsperson operating the lower section.


Related Definitions:


Fiber: Natural (plant or animal) or synthetic material formed into a thread that is longer than it is wide.


Warp: lengthwise yarn that runs from the top to the bottom of the fabric. This yarn is typically held stationary during weaving.


Weft (or Fill or Filling Yarns): crosswise yarn that runs selvedge to selvedge, under and over the warp yarns in varying patterns to create different weave structures.


Yarn: A continuous length of interlocked fibers, which may or may not be twisted.

Plain Weave (or Tabby Weave): the most basic weave structure that consists of one warp and one weft thread intersecting at a right angle. The front and backside of the resulting fabric are the same.


Satin Weave: Four or more weft yarns intersecting with a warp yarn, or vice versa. The resulting floats, which are sections of the yarn that do not intersect, appear on the face of the fabric, producing a very glossy, smooth, and flat appearance.


Twill Weave: one weft thread passing over one or more warp threads and then under two or more warp threads creating diagonal ridges, which are the identifying feature of the resulting fabric.


Leno: A type of gauze fabric in which two or more warp yarns (up to four) are twisted around a weft yarn to produce a strong but fine, loose, and open fabric.

© 2022 University of Alberta
© 2022 University of Alberta

Citation

Page Citation for Brocade

Page Citation

"Materials Glossary Details - Brocade, Mactaggart Art Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/8-272225/21-19459. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Object Information

There are 268 objects associated with this Materials Glossary Term

2005.5.1 - Silk Brocade Jacket for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.6 - Silk Tapestry Weave Vest for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typevest Artistunknown Date Made1895-1911

2005.5.24 - Length of Green Silk Brocade Yardage

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.26 - Blue Silk Table Frontal

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typetable frontal Artistunknown Date Made1736-1795

2005.5.27 - Length of Floral Yellow Silk Brocade

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.28 - Red Silk Brocade Chair Cover

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typechair cover Artistunknown Date Made1736-1795

2005.5.29 - Blue Silk Fragmentary Panel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.30 - Silk Brocade Panel made from a Fragment of a Dragon Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.31 - Silk Brocade Panel made from a Fragment of a Dragon Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.32 - Blue Silk Brocade Panel made from a Fragment of a Dragon Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.34 - Yellow Silk Fragmentary Panel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.35 - Yellow Silk Panel made from a Fragment of a Woman's Skirt or Apron

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.36 - Blue Silk Tapestry Weave Roundel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeroundel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.37 - Silk Brocade Panel made from a Fragment of a Dragon Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.38 - Silk Panel made from a Fragment of a Woman's Skirt

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.41 - Fragment of a Brocade Silk Obi

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typefragment Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.43 - Fragment of Silk Brocade Yardage

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.44 - Fragment of Embroidered Silk

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.45 - Cream Silk Panel made from a Fragment of a Woman's Skirt

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.46 - Brown Silk Panel made from a Fragment of a Woman's Skirt

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.49 - Blue Silk Tapestry Weave Panel of Two Dragons

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown